Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that as of April 1, 2002 the Department of Transportation will extend over-the-counter permanent document licensing services to the communities of Deline, Fort Good Hope, Fort McPherson, Fort Providence and Tuktoyaktuk. This would include driver licences, vehicle registrations and general identification cards.

Up until now, people in these communities have had to make do with temporary driver's licences and vehicle registrations until the permanent documents were processed and sent back to them. Now these communities will have the same licensing services that are available in the larger centres.

A direct electronic link to the motor vehicle information system and about $75,000 worth of licensing equipment have made the improvements possible. The department expects to extend this improved service to the communities of Aklavik, Holman, Tulita and Fort Resolution in the near future.

The new and improved licensing services, Mr. Speaker, shows that so far as possible, the Department of Transportation tries to offer the same quality of services in smaller communities as it can in the larger ones. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause