Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to inform the House of a new national television network. In February of this year the CRTC approved the application from the APTV, which is the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, to operate a national aboriginal television network. This network will come into effect in September of this year. The application for this new television network was made by TVNC, which is Television Northern Canada who, over the next few months, will transform itself into the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.

Mr. Speaker, what makes this so unique is that this network will offer aboriginal programming to all regions in Canada as well as offer international, indigenous programming to viewers. This is especially significant for Northerners to be proud of and will offer viewers in the North a television network free of charge. Southern viewers will be offered the same service at a cost of 15 cents per month. Unlike southern viewers, Northerners will have access to a special northern feed which means that viewers in the North will continue to be offered northern-specific programming such as the Legislative Assembly proceedings and distance-education programming. This will ensure viewers, particularly aboriginal people, a network with northern content.

The greatest benefit, Mr. Speaker, is that viewers in the North will now have access to other southern and international aboriginal-based programming that they would not otherwise be able to view. Like many residents of the North, I welcome this new addition to northern television, particularly on behalf of aboriginal people and look forward to viewing this network when it comes on-line in September. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.