Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I will be addressing the request from the community of Jean Marie River for their log home building training program. Jean Marie, along with Wrigley and Nahanni Butte just to name a few, do not have economic development officers and are not home communities to large economic development initiatives. They are small communities with limited economic activities and opportunities. When the community of Jean Marie embarks on a log home building initiative and needs assistance with training dollars, we should be giving special consideration when evaluating their training and economic development requests.

Furthermore, the funds requested were minimal, Madam Speaker, not even equivalent to the postage cost of any one of our departments. This government has previously expressed support for this initiative in Jean Marie River, however, their response today is no. This seems to be a contradiction. Concerns and initiatives in small communities seem to be overlooked by this government, with our administration only responding to what they think we want to hear or with a generic commitment.

The full-size recreational facility in Nahanni Butte and adequate and regular medical services for the community of Wrigley seem to be an ongoing promise by the GNWT and never seem to solidify to anything an MLA can take back to their home communities. The stimulation of economic development is critical to the future of all communities. Industry, Tourism and Investment say they recognize the value and the importance of adequate financial resources going toward community-based initiatives, so this lack of support is unacceptable for a government who prides themselves on being a government of the people.

I strongly support the training request from Jean Marie River. Small communities seem to be left with what other larger communities have decided and as each department, organization and regional office deduct their administration costs, we are left with a minimal trickled

down amount. This government must have continued and consistent resources for our smaller communities, Madam Speaker. Thank you very much.