Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first let me start by sending greetings back to my wife and children. Mr. Speaker, as is well known, jobs are the back bone to a healthy community and economy. Mr. Speaker, the issue that I raise today is to speak on the news that came across the Northwest Territories that the Department of DIAND was looking at transferring jobs to the Northwest Territories. There will initially be 20 jobs and possibly 50 jobs, which is a remarkable turn-around when initially a study was done by that department and said that no jobs would be coming to the Northwest Territories, so it is good news indeed.
My concern, Mr. Speaker, is where these jobs will end up in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, it is well known that the activity that is increasing here in the Northwest Territories centres largely around oil and gas development. In fact, a billion dollars worth of activity over the next couple of years, including the two previous, will be done in the Beaufort-Delta region. So, Mr. Speaker, my issue is that I will pursue this government to ensure that as those jobs from DIAND move North, they move North to where the activity is, not just to the headquarters where development seems to happen around government. In fact, we can dig out numerous jobs and growth in this government since division to show that headquarters has done rather well in growing over the last number of years.
My concern, Mr. Speaker, is to ensure that as jobs move to the North, whether they be through this government or the federal government, that those positions are put in communities that can use the jobs as well as provide for the work that is done in the regions, not that everybody has to come to Yellowknife to see someone from government, or get their permits or applications in. In fact, I think it is time for this government to take a page out of what happened in Nunavut and look at some devolution of jobs and those responsibilities to the communities. With that, Mr. Speaker, I will be questioning the appropriate Minister. Thank you.
-- Applause