Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have said on a couple of occasions, I like to give acknowledgement when it is in order. Today, Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the local business community. The Yellowknife businesses, Mr. Speaker, provide a good service. Additionally, they often give, give and give again. By this I mean that they are behind the scenes making local events possible. They donate gifts, gift certificates, prizes, money, services and many of them sponsor community events and recreational and athletic teams such as baseball teams and that sort of thing. I am told that they get an amazing number and variety of requests. Some places get three to five requests per week and, in fact, some businesses get daily requests. Mr. Speaker, despite the doom and gloom about businesses closing in Yellowknife, many people, including myself, have been amazed at the generosity of the Yellowknife businesses.

--Applause

For example, the Youth Parliament here in May is partially made possible through the generosity of the airlines helping them to come from the communities to Yellowknife to participate in the Youth Assembly. Folk on the Rocks, Raven Mad Daze, you name it, whenever events like this occur, you always see lists of acknowledgement in the papers. Mr. Speaker, it is really true that there is a multiplier effect when you spend your dollars locally. The dollars stay in the North and there is also the hidden benefit of assisting the local business community to provide a little more to these local events. Mr. Speaker, this statement is made to recognize the businesses. On behalf of the public and especially the volunteers who are continually asking for donations for various projects, I would like to applaud and to thank the local business community. Thank you.

--Applause