Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to once again talk about the GNWT's support for the development of oil and gas industry related opportunities for residents and businesses in my constituency.

Mr. Speaker, there is a great deal of oil and gas exploration activity in the southern Mackenzie region; activity that should be supported and assisted by this government to a much greater degree than is currently the case.

According to the NWT oil and gas activity update issued by RWED on September 14th of this year, there are plans in place by industry to drill as many as 13 wells, in addition to seismic programs in the Deh Cho region. Five of these exploration wells were slated for the Cameron Hills. Total expenditures in the region are then projected as high as $90 million. In contrast, the same document states that there are up to eight exploratory wells being planned by industry in the Beaufort-Delta region for the upcoming winter.

Notwithstanding the subsequent effect of September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States on these plans, I feel that these numbers should help honourable Members place my constituency of the Deh Cho in some kind of context when it comes to assessing GNWT assistance for development in the region.

These drilling statistics demonstrate that some of the drilling training that is being conducted in the Inuvik area would be very beneficial in my constituency, yet there is no such program being offered in the Deh Cho. Indeed, although NWT Community Mobilization, with GNWT assistance, has facilitated many workshops on industry worker certification in the Sahtu and the Delta over the last 12 months through its Worker Capacity Building Program, there has been none in my constituency since December of 1999.

Community organizations consequently have to pay for basic training initiatives themselves and try to recoup the funds from the GNWT in any way that they can. This is unacceptable, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment labels some of its initiatives in oil and gas training as just-in-time training courses. Mr. Speaker, this term illustrates the government taking a reactive approach to human resources planning and training.

Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to continue my statement.