Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to briefly talk about a sector of our economy that has not received much attention as of late with all the talk of diamonds, oil and gas and hydro. That is the arts and crafts sector of our economy.

Mr. Speaker, very clearly this is acknowledged as an important part of our economy, but it has laboured in obscurity, outshone by the glitter of diamonds and oil and gas and hydro. It is a sector of our economy that needs attention. It is struggling.

Mr. Speaker, when we looked at maximizing northern employment, one of the questions I will have for the Minister is how does this tie in and effect the arts and crafts sector of our economy? What kind of discussions will be held with the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development to make sure that there is a combined and joint coordinated effort to try to support this key and critical sector?

Mr. Speaker, the NWT Arts Council, for example, since division has laboured with a static budget of $140,000 trying to address the requests from dozens upon dozens of struggling artists and those in the craft area. Mr. Speaker, over two years, they have had 130 applications and over $1.5 million worth of requests, but a meagre $280,000 over two years to address the concerns and try to support this struggling sector of our economy.

So later today, I will be asking the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to demonstrate in this House what is being done to assist this area of our economy that everybody acknowledges is critical in the traditional values it portrays, and the need to have an expanded, strong and vibrant arts and crafts community. When question period comes, I hope the Minister can demonstrate that in fact they are acknowledged and they are working in this area, and they will be able to tell us how they are doing that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause