Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I have some questions for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. It gets back to something I have been talking about previously. That is mining and resource development here in the Northwest Territories. Our modern day economy was founded on resource development. It remains a cornerstone of our economy today and I think we are fooling ourselves if we look into the future and resource development is not a key component to our economy and the future development of this Territory.

I have some questions regarding the elimination of the Grubstake Program, Mr. Speaker. It was only $65,000 but it got prospectors started out on the land looking for mineral deposits. I think it is not the amount of money that really bothers me; it is the principle and what is going to fill the void and how are we going to get people involved in prospecting and the message that it sends. The first question that I have to the Minister is: What was the rationale for cutting the Grubstake Program and what will replace it, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.