Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regard to bringing in witnesses, Mr. Chair, I will ask to do so if we get into areas of technical questions that I may not be able to reply to. I will do my best to answer most questions. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, we in the Northwest Territories are living in a time of unprecedented economic opportunity. Exploration and development in the non-renewable resource sector will move us toward economic self-reliance, while at the same time contributing to the economic wealth of Canada.

Thousands of jobs will potentially be created over the next few years. More than 1,000 jobs are expected to be created in connection with Mackenzie Delta oil and gas activity this year alone. Our studies indicate 3,000 Northerners are currently seeking employment. Our challenge, Mr. Chairman, is to ensure that these Northerners have the skills to fill the jobs.

This year the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is investing over $500,000 on community-based, entry-level training and human resource development, money that was approved by the Assembly in the budget last spring. Safety training, heavy equipment operators' courses and an innovative mobile welding program are among the initiatives that are taking place this winter. Over the next three years, we hope to fund longer term training programs. Enhanced skills will give Northerners greater opportunity to access the longer term, higher paying, skilled jobs available in the oil and gas and mining sectors.

This investment is part of the four-year training plan called a Human Resource Plan Related to Non-Renewable Resources in the Northwest Territories, which aims at preparing Northerners to take advantage of the thousands of development-related jobs that will be created in the next few years.

Our training plan is, in turn, a component of the NWT's Non-Renewable Resource Strategy. To take maximum advantage of the economic opportunities in this sector, the government has challenged the Government of Canada to invest $235 million.

I have personally presented the training component of this strategy to Human Resources Minister Jane Stewart. While her reception was enthusiastic, I have yet to receive a final response to my request. I hope to have further contact with the federal Minister responsible after the election.

Mr. Chairman, this Human Resource Development Plan will ensure NWT residents reap long-term benefits from non-renewable resource development benefits that will continue to pay dividends well into the future. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.