What I’m hearing from the Minister in regard to this storefront…. This motion basically supports that initiative. I think we can continue that initiative and make sure we have a presence.
I think this department is crucial to what’s going on in the Inuvik region. We have environmental screening committees that work in the community; we have regulatory boards that work in Inuvik. At the end of the day, we have to work with these other agencies, but I think that moving away from the downtown core of Inuvik sends the wrong message. If this government is saying they want to be involved in providing services and programs, to be involved in the oil and gas activities, talk about land management, environment management, it does not send the right message by way of government’s relocating outside of the core of the community.
When you are a regional centre, you’re there to provide services to Inuvik, Beaufort-Delta region as a whole and not to be having to go in to town, then come back out of town and then back in to town to meet with somebody else. I think the convenience of this is going to be felt by people who are trying to develop a working relationship with this department. But, again, the motion does support the effort that’s being recommended by the department, so I don’t think it should be an issue. If anything, it’s helping it by way of identifying these dollars for reinstatement.
So, Mr. Chairman, I would request a recorded vote.