Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to use my Member's statement today to speak about the discussion we had yesterday as it pertains to the grant-in-kind of $120,000 to forego the interest on a $2.6 million loan guarantee for Det'on Cho Diamonds.
Mr. Speaker, I know I was close to the line in terms of questioning how this deal was brokered. Mr. Speaker, one thing that this government and other Members will quickly learn from me is I like to call it like I see it. Sometimes, Mr. Speaker, this may land me in hot water, but I have a sense of right and wrong that I will continue to rely on. If my comments yesterday were close to the line, I apologize for that. What I will not apologize for is the message that I feel was delivered yesterday to the government and the Premier that I and other Members are paying close attention to the dealings this government has. The Premier made reference yesterday that should the $120,000 be deleted it would come out of the budget and we would have to make up for it elsewhere. His suggestion, Mr. Speaker, was legal aid and some other programs. I did not appreciate the threat, Mr. Speaker. It reminded me of my days at city hall when we were discussing our budget and possible spending cuts and or tax hikes. The threats then were that the pool would close, the busses would stop running, all of which were unfounded. The city had a budget of $32 million, Mr. Speaker, and our budget is nearly $1 billion. For the Premier to suggest other areas of the operation would suffer as a result of the deletion of this item is ludicrous.
The bottom line, Mr. Speaker, is that we are the stewards of public money and we have to safeguard those interests. I am a supporter of economic development and business here in the Northwest Territories, and will continue to be. We must make sure that any dealings are as transparent and as upfront as possible, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to working with the Premier, Cabinet and my other colleagues here over the next four years to ensure that we safeguard public funds to the best of our ability. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause