Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, while we were grinding away in this House, with our lean, mean Minister of Health and Social Services -- listening to how he was going to meet the needs of the people of the Northwest Territories on what he was referring to as a shoestring budget of $250 million -- exciting things were happening in Ottawa. The federal Finance Minister was delivering the first sound financial management federal budget under Paul Martin. Although I didn't get to listen to the budget address, I did take time last night to read through it. I don't know if this budget was put together with the best interests of Canadians in mind or the sheer desperation of political salvation.
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At one point, Mr. Speaker, I was feeling really good as I imagined that it was our very own Finance Minister addressing the needs of our residents and communities and doling out the figures to address our priorities. Figures like the health, $34 billion over five years with an additional $2 billion...Learning? Millions. I couldn't even add them up, Mr. Speaker. I never had time. Learning and commercialization, $280 million over two years. Communities, $7 billion into the hands of communities over the next 10 years. And then, Mr. Speaker, I woke up. But one line in that paragraph under municipalities did catch my attention, Mr. Speaker. It said, "This is real money for improved roads, clean air and expanded local services."
Mr. Speaker, on my way to work this morning, I listened to the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew giving her take on the budget. She was saying that it is the best the North has ever had. Their territorial formula financing of $150 million, health support of $60 million, economic development of $90 million, northern oil and gas, $75 million, contaminated sites, $3.5 million...Mr. Speaker, I was excited once again in driving to work having listened to our MP on the radio, only to get to the Legislative Assembly and then get a briefing from our Finance Minister saying that actually we got $7.5 million and a forgiveness of $50 million over one year.
Mr. Speaker, I don't want to speak negatively to the budget. I think there were some good things for the North, although it is not in our hands. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to close my statement.