Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, it has been ten very short and hectic weeks since we assumed our jobs as Members of the Legislative Assembly and selected Cabinet. Since then, we have agreed as a Caucus that our first priority would be to develop a vision and establish our priorities for the life of this Legislative Assembly. This approach, I believe, was to set us apart as different from previous governments.

Tomorrow, we will be releasing copies of that vision and priorities, which we have labeled "Towards a Better Tomorrow", to the public. These are visions and priorities developed by all of us to show leadership and unity to our citizens, and to provide a measure by which they can hold each one of us accountable.

This vision of priorities will set us on a course of change to take advantage of the great opportunities that are emerging in the Northwest Territories. We can only do this if we all work together. I believe we have also agreed that change should not and cannot happen overnight.

Over the last two weeks, all of us have had the opportunity to review the interim budgets of the departments, including the Executive. By necessity of timing, interim budgets had to be developed to provide the necessary short-term funding to maintain programs and services to residents and to provide for the operation of government and the Legislative Assembly.

This provides us with time and breathing space to take stock of where we are and to begin to change course to reflect our current vision. We are already beginning to implement the road map of the 14th Legislative Assembly through the business planning and the budget that will be developed and reviewed in standing committees and this Legislative Assembly in June. While change will not happen overnight, it will set the direction on which we will be held accountable.

At this time, I understand there is a particular concern on the part of Members about the interim budget of the Executive. Although it will affect the ability of the department to carry out what we see as important tasks, we have discussed it. We have asked the Minister responsible for Finance to bring forward a motion at the time we are considering the Bill to make the necessary amendments as was agreed to last week, to reduce the Executive's interim budget by $100,000. Thank you.