Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In most communities, I heard the discussion yesterday in the House in regard to 911 service in the communities of Yellowknife and six other communities. But I would also like to state that the communities in the Northwest Territories are still waiting for cell phone service.

The Yukon government made a political decision to ensure cell phone services to every community in the Yukon a couple of years ago, in conjunction with a private sector proposal that they received from NorthwesTel and a joint venture company.

I know that the 15th Assembly put out a request for

proposal to look at a similar arrangement in the Northwest Territories, but to date we haven’t seen any progress. I believe that communications in our communities, around our communities, and on the land can be accessed through cell phone service, especially on our highway systems where, more importantly, we don’t have any services it’s critical that we have that communication link wherever possible.

I think it’s very important that this government takes another look at the request for proposals, say exactly what the solicitors provided and, more importantly, act on that recommendation. If the Yukon can do it, can provide cell phone services to the community of Old Crow, I don’t see why this government cannot provide the same service to the other 23 communities throughout the Northwest Territories so we also can have cell phone services like most of the regional centres.