Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I rise, I would like to wish congratulations to you for your new appointment to your station. I know you will do a great job. I wish to say, for the record, as a senior, you certainly put up a good fight. If you suffer from any bruises, I am sure they must have been the affliction of Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Speaker, as a territorial government, we are in a particular strategic position with our federal leadership yet to be determined. I would like to talk to you about a northern agenda today. Candidates for the Western Arctic riding in the upcoming federal election are looking to us, our current leaders, to share some of our northern views with them. It is important that they know them. Mr. Speaker, we have the opportunity, if I may say, we truly have the obligation to engage in these candidates to ensure that they realize and understand true northern issues and make sure that these concerns are brought forward at a national level. Mr. Speaker, issues such as health care needs, resource sharing, environmental, cultural awareness, and devolution. I can go on endlessly, but it is important that we ensure that these candidates, our potential new Member of Parliament, understand these issues.

Mr. Speaker, this new Member of Parliament will be an advocate, so it is important that we make sure that they are truly educated on our needs. However, some of these needs and issues may seem similar to those in the South. I demand that they bring forward the issue and understand, in the sense that they educate the South of the higher cost of living and the higher cost of delivering these basic services that should be enshrined to everyone. Mr. Speaker, it is incumbent that the rest of Canada truly recognizes the Northwest Territories as a distinct society. As I stated yesterday in the debate with regard to a motion on provincehood, I would encourage our potential candidates and hopefully someday our new Member of Parliament to make sure that the rest of Canada knows that. Mr. Speaker, as they are recording us presently, the commitment should be on us to bring forward a strong message and educate them on northern priorities.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I will further be asking more questions to the Premier with regard to possibly educating our candidates for the Western Arctic riding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause