Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to add an opinion about this very important topic. Mr. Speaker, I think that the reality of our financial situation is quite dire. I think while there is a consensus that we have to do our necessary spending, the approaching debt wall in front of us is getting closer and closer. Mr. Speaker, one thing that needs to be remembered is the fact that this government has seen a major, major reduction in capital spending. Just in this year, capital expenditures are expected to decrease by 48 percent from $143 million last year to $74 million in this coming year. This is a very small amount out of $611 million in the total budget. I do believe that, as long as we have so little money in the capital budget, we will continue to hear concerns about what's going on behind closed doors and the ever present feeling that whoever squeaks the loudest or whoever bugs the Minister hardest or whoever pounds the desk the loudest will get the capital budget in their riding. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that this government has to make very tough choices in order to meet the spending needs in areas such as health and social services, but I think it's incumbent on all of us to come up with ways to do it better and reduce costs where we can. I think there are many realities that I must point out as a Member from Yellowknife, which is seen as one of the richest areas. But the reality is, Mr. Speaker, that the tax-based communities are not getting a lot of help from the GNWT to replace their aging infrastructure. Residents in tax-based communities have to pay more in the way of municipal taxes, but we have to line up behind every other community to get capital projects.
---Interjection
There is a public perception, Mr. Speaker, that a lot of the capital budget is spent in Yellowknife and this is not true. While it may be true that the budget is being spent at territorial facilities in Yellowknife, these facilities are not for the sole use of Yellowknife but for all Northerners. We have needs for schools and recreational complexes like everyone else, and I believe we need...Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement?