Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Luckily the NWT has these. We have gold, silver, zinc, copper and rare earth metals that are all trading at record highs. In most of them our forecasts remain high in light of the increased demand from Asia's growing economy. We also have a major storehouse of clean energy: uranium. In order to bring these commodities into production some day, prospectors need access to the land to carry out the grassroots exploration activities. Unfortunately, many of their planned programs are being held up for political reasons while land claims are under consideration.
Mr. Speaker, mining has and is continuing to open a lot of doors for many northerners, whether its jobs, training or new business ventures. The industry places a high priority on creating a skilled northern workforce and is keen to participate in the planning of further transportation infrastructure in the North. The mining sector deserves the recognition it receives during Mining Week, Mr. Speaker, and I would like to encourage all Members and the public to take part in the various events around the city this week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause