Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regard to the financial update given by the Minister of Finance, I find it kind of odd, the timing of the financial update coming in, knowing that we just adjourned the Fifth Session and now we are into the Sixth Session. Mr. Speaker, this information should have been released as soon as we realized we had over $100 million deficit, to the public of the Northwest Territories to make them aware of the financial situation we are in as a Government of the Northwest Territories.

I for one, Mr. Speaker, have seen what a deficit can do to a government by the major cuts that we had to put in place during the 13th Assembly. Mr. Speaker, for myself the deficit is a serious matter and should be dealt with by informing the public of the financial situation we are in.

Yet, Mr. Speaker, there are still other major capital expenditures that are in place as we are finding out through this government process. A jail facility that was constructed for $35 million is now $50 million, $15 million over budget and it is not even off the ground yet.

Mr. Speaker, there are major expenditures taking place in this government which is adding to the deficit of this government. Mr. Speaker, I for one feel offended that we did not release this information sooner to the public of the Northwest Territories during the sitting of the Fifth Session so they could have gotten the full picture of what the financial situation of this government is, especially in regard to how expenditures have been handled within this government.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that we do take our deficit seriously. That we do not continue the spending practices that we have, where we are spending knowing that we are facing our debt wall. We have a $300 million debt wall. Our idea is, let's go back to Ottawa and get them to increase the debt wall so we can spend more money. For myself, that is not good governance. We are responsible for the public purse, the public expenditures and the dollars that we receive from Ottawa.

Yet, Mr. Speaker, as we can see here in the House today, we have a lot of things on the go, but when it comes to initiatives with regard to the reports that are put forward, social agendas, how we are going to deal with our social problems, what we hear back is "sorry, there is no money." Yet the spending spree of this government continues to go on.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister of Finance questions on this matter later.

-- Applause