Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I will start with acknowledging the Premier's support of this. This was a motion that actually we started talking about very early in our preparation last week for our sessional business here. In collaboration with the Premier and the Finance Minister, we have something that this whole Assembly can support. Acknowledging that we won't see the Premier and the Cabinet voting because of this technicality of directing them to do something does not diminish the support and appreciation that we have and that I have for doing this.

Mr. Speaker, one of the things that we avoided in this was actually setting a dollar amount by which we feel this allowance should be increased. This is something that we link to our desire that our sister territories, Nunavut and the Yukon, will also come in. It is also an acknowledgement, Mr. Speaker, that, as different taxation pictures are changed or amended, there are consequences. This is something that we have to be mindful with this change. In a federal taxation, it would result in a potential reduction in payments or contributions that are made from the federal government to the NWT, so we need to be mindful that there is a consequence here.

Further to asking the Premier and the Finance Minister to work with the counterparts in the other territories is what would seem to be the need for a concerted, well-orchestrated and unified effort to get this message through to the new government in Ottawa. Some news accounts of a few days ago that would indicate that this is just not on their list, even though it has been raised by our new Member of Parliament I believe in at least the last two elections. This is not a new idea. We are going to have to link arms if we are going to get something done on this.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that I believe that making this adjustment can be one of the most effective, simplest and direct methods of enabling every Canadian who is living in a high-cost jurisdiction to see some recognition from the national government, from Canada, that there is a consequence, a cost, to living in northern Canada, and that it is something, in the interest of sovereignty and of making the very best of the opportunities that are up here, for northerners and for Canada. this is a very strong and positive thing that can be done and should be done for northerners, for the rest of Canada to take on, recognizing that this is an increment that makes sense, that is sustainable and that would be good for northerners and good for Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause