Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you may recall that some time ago, I referred to Yellowknife as a giant vacuum cleaner and that this government was the motor that drove it. As an update, Mr. Speaker, it appears that the vacuum cleaner may be in trouble. The main container is full to capacity and the exhaust is practically plugged. Now the government is being called upon to become the repairman.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure that all residents of the Northwest Territories have been inundated with the news reports of the housing crisis and the zero vacancy rates in Yellowknife. I am quite sure, Mr. Speaker, that some of this is the result of this government's focus on staffing existing and new positions at the headquarters here in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, this government has stated many times that regional capacity building is high on its list of priorities. I am sure that my fellow colleagues from outside of Yellowknife would agree with me when I say that it is difficult to see any instances of this when so many government jobs are being posted in Yellowknife.

I speak not only of the territorial government, Mr. Speaker, but the federal government is guilty of this practice also. On February 6th, CBC Radio reported that the federal government says it will be at least three months before it knows how many civil servants to hire in response to the increasing activity in the oil and gas sector.

Mr. Speaker, the news report goes on to state that the positions include regulatory monitoring and technical experts, an oil and gas advisor and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs stated that the first phase of this increase would mean under 20 jobs. If the Mackenzie Valley pipeline is approved, as many as 50 jobs could be eventually created.

The federal government has stated that they are considering Yellowknife as the location for these jobs. Mr. Speaker, this gives me cause for great concern. If the pipeline is built, it will not be built anywhere remotely close to Yellowknife. I can think of no reason whatsoever why these jobs would need to be located in Yellowknife, other than to bolster the already overgrown number of public sector jobs located here in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot stress enough that we as a government should continue to do more to consider alternatives to have the vast majority of government jobs located in Yellowknife. If you speak to anyone in the regions outside of Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker, the public perception is that the headquarters of government departments in Yellowknife are far too top-heavy.

Mr. Speaker, I intend to continue to fully address this issue with my colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause