Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we used to have a tradition of doing something lighthearted in this House on Fridays. I do not believe we are going to be sitting until Friday so I have a Member's statement that I hope no one takes offense to. My daughter helped me write it. It is called the Three Truckloads North.

Once upon a time in a land not so far away, there were three truckloads north. In the winter, they hauled loads and loads of freight to the good people of the Northwest Territories. On their way to the North over the highway system, the three truckloads north had to cross a rushing river. There was only one way to cross over and that was on the ferry. It should be a bridge, but in this case, it was a ferry. The ferry was made of reinforced steel plate. In the wheelhouse of the ferry lurked the highway troll.

No one was allowed to cross the river without paying the highway troll. He wanted the trucks to pay a trip fee. The smallest truckload north was the first to reach the raging river. Vroom! went the little engine as it hauled its freight on the deck of the ferry. "Who is that driving on my ferry and wearing out my roads?" growled the highway troll over the loudspeaker on the ferry from the wheelhouse.

"It is only I," said the smallest truckload north. "I am on my way to Yellowknife with this load of bread and vegetables for the food stores so the families can feed their children." "Oh no you are not," said the highway troll, "not until you pay me." "Oh please, highway troll," pleaded the smallest truck. "I am much too small to pay a trip fee. Why don't you wait for my brother? He is much bigger and has a different axle configuration and would be able to pay a much bigger fee."

The highway troll did not want to waste his time on a little truck if there was a bigger and better truck to tax. "All right, you can pass on my ferry," he grunted. "Go and get heavier and I will tax you on the way back." So the smallest truckload north passed over the raging river.

The highway troll did not have to wait long for the second truckload north. Vroom, vroom! roared the engine as the second truck drove onto the deck of the ferry, causing it to dip slightly to one side. "Who is that driving across the deck of my ferry?" screamed the highway troll, suddenly appearing in the wheelhouse. "Truckload north," said the second truck. "I am heading up to Yellowknife with this load of industrial parts for the suppliers who sell materials to the folks who service the industry." "Oh no you are not," said the highway troll, "not until you pay the trip fee." "Oh no, please," said the second truck. "I may be bigger than the first truckload north, but I am much smaller and will pass through many fewer zones than my big brother, the third truckload north. Why do you not wait for him? He would be able to pay a much bigger fee."

Mr. Speaker, I am going to run out of time here. I did not think this was so long. I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.