Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Constituents of Inuvik, my wife and children, today I rise to give notice that I will not be in the House on Monday, February 26, 2001, and will miss part of February 27, 2001, as I will be attending the official opening of the Swimming Point Camp Site, as well as touring the Akita's Equtak rig.

Mr. Speaker, it has been some time since the Beaufort Delta has seen the activity that is starting to increase again. I can recall as a child travelling down the east branch of the Mackenzie River many times, and going past the camps that were established and operating in those days, and Swimming Point that also used to have a camp. As things turned down in the Delta, those camps disappeared. For years, as we drive by to the summer camps, we would see an area that had been abandoned. You would see the gravel pad, there was nothing left besides a place where the barges used to go to shore.

Mr. Speaker, once again in the Delta, we see activity starting and growth happening. It has been a long time and at this time, Mr. Speaker, the people of the Delta are more than just workers and labourers. They are partners in businesses. They are taking advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead. This time, I think and I hope, that truly in the Northwest Territories we will see some growth, not just by jobs and pay cheques, but by true partnerships and by northern businesses. Thank you.

-- Applause