Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of the 14th Assembly, Members of this House laid out our vision for the Northwest Territories. We committed to work together toward a vibrant, prosperous and unified territory of which all Northerners can be proud. Since then, we have been building the foundations to make the vision expressed in Towards a Better Tomorrow a reality. As the 14th Assembly enters the second half of its term, it is time to ensure that the foundations are level and the framework is appropriate for us to take the next steps in building our vision.

As our Premier, the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, stressed in his address to the people of the Northwest Territories last month, "We can, and we will, complete the tasks we have set out for ourselves in our vision."

Over the last two years, we have worked hard to ensure that the Northwest Territories benefits from the growing demand for our resources. We are seeing the benefits in economic terms. Our economy is strong and more opportunities are opening up for Northwest Territories' residents and businesses.

It is time to assess our accomplishments and to evaluate our goals and priorities. We have made some critical investments in the development of the Northwest Territories including:

• • developing a strategy to maximize northern employment;
• • creating a literacy strategy;
• • initiating the development of a social agenda;
• • developing a transportation infrastructure strategy; and
• • developing and implementing a non-renewable resource development strategy.

However, the achievements that are bringing the benefits of economic growth are also producing pressures -- pressures such as housing shortages, demands on community infrastructure and social and environmental concerns. We need to continue our efforts to promote economic growth and prosperity but unless we do so in a manner that balances economic development and sustainable growth, we risk building our vision on an unstable foundation.

This budget is about maintaining that balance. We need to balance revenues with expenditures, to balance economic investments with social investments and to balance resource development with environmental protection.

We must address social issues, the need for community infrastructure, and the northern cost of living. We must also undertake initiatives to protect our environment, to foster our traditional economy and to protect our identities and cultures. We must focus on initiatives that support growth in small communities as well as in the major centres. We must ensure that our healthy economy benefits all Northwest Territories residents.

This budget lays out our strategy for making crucial investments in strengthening our social fabric and in developing our economy within an environment of revenue uncertainty. This budget confirms our commitment to our vision.

Mr. Speaker, in developing our budget plan, we listened to the concerns of Northerners. This budget responds to the recommendations and proposals put forward by the Members of this Legislative Assembly, by Chiefs, by community leaders, by non-government and business organizations, and by individuals. Because money is limited, choices are involved. This budget cannot respond to all the needs that have been identified but must have a balance. We believe that we have achieved this balance.

This budget is about building on the foundations we have laid down in the first two years of our mandate. It is about building, together, our vision of a better tomorrow.