Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the government has expressed its intention to bring into force a Beverage Container Recovery Program on November 1, 2005;

AND WHEREAS the program will require consumers to pay both a refundable deposit of at least 10 cents and a handling fee of at least five cents on beverage containers;

AND WHEREAS consumers will have to return their containers to a depot in order to have their deposits refunded;

AND WHEREAS the majority of small communities, representing approximately 20 percent of our residents, do not yet have approved depots;

AND WHEREAS the cost of groceries is already extremely high across the NWT, particularly in smaller communities that are not on the highway system;

AND WHEREAS small communities have historically had far lower average personal incomes than Yellowknife and other regional centres, and many residents of these communities are already struggling to make ends meet;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that the government delay implementation of the Beverage Container Recovery Program in every community without an approved depot until such time as a local depot is available.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker

---Applause