Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Some very good comments. I think that we talked about the BDIC and the future of business programming in the Northwest Territories. I think that it has to be about efficient and effective program delivery, and it has to be slimmed down administration. We have to look at all of the tools available to us, and if there are banking mechanisms, banking tools that we need to consider that we haven't to date, then I am certainly prepared to do that.
The Minister did reference the Credit Union Act. We have, and I know the Member is aware of this, but we commissioned a Bankers' Commission report that provided us with some advice and recommended the creation or the amalgamation of this agency, the BDIC. It pointed out, just as the Member has pointed out, that one of the key hurdles and one of the main things that really restricts the ability of businesses to grow in the Northwest Territories is this limited access to capital. I think the Member has made some very good points, and certainly we have to consider all aspects of this, and we have to consider if there are avenues and approaches we can take to repatriate northern money to make sure that it circulates in the Northwest Territories and is available for investment in the Northwest Territories. Then it makes no sense not to do something about it and try to pursue as many angles as possible to make that a reality. Obviously this requires some pretty heavily skilled individuals and some significant expertise, but I am certain that we can find that resource and discuss these issues with the Members in an intelligent manner.
The Member also referenced pipeline development, the impact that unions will play, the nature of jobs, and the nature of employment on the pipeline. I would like to tell the Member that I have had meetings with the Petroleum Services Association of Canada to better understand the nature of employment on the pipeline, and better understand who the main employers are. I think there is a misperception that it will be the producers who are employing the bulk of employees up and down the pipeline when, in fact, I think much of this work ends up being subcontracted. So I have had a good discussion with the Petroleum Services Association and their membership. They represent many Metis companies who are involved in the industry and are smaller-scale employers. I think it is important to understand how they think and how they operate, and what is important for them. Certainly through our protocol agreement we are seeking to meet with industry, larger industry and some of the smaller individual companies to discuss the very nature of the employment. It is important for us to get a handle on this. I know the Minister of ECE has also been involved and we have recognized that unions will play a role in this development, but so will employers. Employers will also play a large role and it is important for us to understand from these employers the nature of their needs. I want to thank the Member for those very good comments.