Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today with the high cost of utilities across the North we continue to try to find solutions to make houses more energy efficient as possible. We try to conserve energy, Mr. Speaker, by using energy-efficient appliances and finding alternative ways to heat our homes. I still find it unfair to northerners that we have land that is so rich in resources we have to continue to pay extremely high rates for all our utilities. Without many of the subsidies provided by the government, Mr. Speaker, people would have a difficult time up here to earn a living.

Mr. Speaker, there are many people today that try hard to earn an honest living, yet they seem to be the last to qualify for many programs because of their income. Many are taxpayers who help subsidize many of the programs. All they ask for is a fair opportunity to take advantage of the money being offered by this government. Are they asking for free money? I don't think so. But interest-free loans to help renovate their houses, because by the time they're done their mortgage payments, their utility payments, buy their food, there's not much left over for renovations and these are usually the last people that money is provided for.

I continue to commend the government for doing what they can to help with the high cost of living in the North, but we have to look after our hard-working and taxpaying citizens. A road down the valley would help bring some of the costs down across the North, Mr. Speaker. A percentage of the resource royalty money could provide interest-free loans to those who want it and will pay for it. We must give all northerners, Mr. Speaker, equal opportunity to take advantage of the programs being offered by this government. As we continue to find ways to save energy, we must protect the consumers from utility providers who will continue to raise the rates because of all of the energy we're saving using some of these initiatives. We have to continue to protect northerners, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

---Applause