Mr. Speaker, a major recommendation in the Common Ground strategy prepared by the Economic Strategy Panel last year was to streamline access to government lending programs and services. To address this recommendation, I established the Business Program Review Committee last year to look at ways to reduce duplication and simplify application processes. I am pleased to report that substantial progress has been made in meeting these objectives.

The Business Program Review Committee recently completed consultations and has produced a report on consolidating Government of the Northwest Territories business assistance programs. The committee held meetings in all regional centres and surveyed existing clients of the programs under review to encourage input on program delivery and options to improve delivery.

The main recommendation of the committee is to create a new arm's-length corporation to deliver RWED programs and services currently provided by the Business Credit Corporation, the Northwest Territories Development Corporation, Canada-Northwest Territories Business Service Centre and Community Futures organizations.

The report is being distributed to all MLAs and stakeholders and comments on the recommendations are requested by December 15. The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development will then develop a plan to implement the recommendations. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Business Program Review Committee for their work in developing these recommendations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause