Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is where the people who are most affected are prepared to take action. I have been working with two of these people, Mark Zimmer and Barry Newman, both owners of small businesses in Yellowknife and both tenants, to develop a petition that will go into circulation today and hopefully, Mr. Speaker, will capture an audience across the Northwest Territories.

The petition urges two things. One is for the government of the Northwest Territories to create effective ways for tenants and landlords to resolve disputes regarding excessive rent increases, and the other is to work with developers to enable construction of affordable rental housing in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, this is not rent control. I want to state right now that I am not in favour of rent control. I will oppose any measure that tries to set absolute control in how a landlord runs his business. I must reinforce, Mr. Speaker, that the messages I am getting from my constituents cannot be ignored. We are not going to take the Minister's initial response as the final word and that is what this petition is about.

I want to congratulate Mr. Zimmer and Mr. Newman for taking the initiative and trying to make a difference. I look forward to bringing a well-signed petition back into this Assembly next February. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause