Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I stand here to speak on the principle of this appropriation bill. I guess my biggest challenge was the big cut of another $250,000 in the multi-sport games. This is now $500,000 cut from multi-sport games and this is having a huge impact on our youth and our residents, especially our future.

When speaking with the Finance Minister, this was my struggle. This was my challenge. This is something I stand up on my principles. However, as we work forward and you got to look at the big picture and look at the number of the issues here. The big issue in my riding I represent is mental health issues.

New positions, the child and youth care consultants, our counsellors, is huge in my riding. You have heard me speak about the challenges we faced in the riding. The positions now are going one in Fort Liard, one in Fort Providence, and one in Fort Simpson. There is going to be a manager. This is going to help address this issue. It's a first step and it's a positive step. I have to congratulate the Department of ECE and the Department of Health and Social Services for working on this and making it a positive step. They have a plan. They are trying to address it. They are starting with the Tlicho and the Nahendeh riding right now, slash Deh Cho. They are moving on for the next few years.

Autism and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder, that is another big issue, and I appreciate the government putting some money towards it. It is now addressing this issue, and it's helping our residents be better prepared in this issue.

You have heard me talk about equity leases here as an issue. It has been an issue ever since I got here. The Minister of Department of Lands and I have had a number of conversations, questions on the floor here. I have to applaud the Government of the Northwest Territories and Cabinet for recognizing this need. We now have put in five positions there. We are now looking forward to making a deal with this in the next three years. That is a huge step for the residents of the Northwest Territories.

We have a number of equity leases out there across the territory and we need to address this. These are people who are homeowners. They are taxpayers and they want to deal with this matter. I applaud the department for dealing with that.

Adding to government's service officers, in the small communities, these positions are huge. They have a huge impact on the riding and for the residents. They address these issues. They are the first line, I think it's what I was told, a single-window service. This is having a huge impact. The department has heard us and is dealing with this matter. They are coming up with a plan to get into all the smaller communities. I applaud the department for that.

I have seen firsthand how these positions have an impact in two of my communities that I represent, Ford Liard and Nahanni Butte. Those two positions are amazing. They do a lot of work for the residents and they are a good conduit for myself as the government as we are trying to get information out to people.

The next issue is leases. From 10 per cent, which is reasonable in some people's world, to 5 per cent. I tried to push it for 3 per cent. I applaud the Minister for actually looking at this and the department for looking at this, and we are reducing that lease to 5 per cent because it now has a huge impact on all residents of the Northwest Territories, not in any specific riding. It's all residents who are dealing with this matter, so I applaud the department for that. Again, I would love to see it at 3 per cent, but at least at 5 per cent, receiving money back into people's pockets.

The last one I would like to talk about the increase to the arts funding. The arts funding, we have heard it, we have seen it, we have had meetings where the arts community asked for increases in funding, a $200,000 for increased funding. We were able to work with the departments and the government to come up with an additional $200,000, which will help these people and help us promote our art world.

Mr. Speaker, when I first started out going through this process, I was really challenged to support this budget. People have seen me stand and rise in this House and not support the last two, but I have to applaud the departments and the government for working with us. We are not going to all have the positive relationship that we want. We don't want to get everything we need, but I have to applaud the department and the Minister for working with us on this. It is a long process. There have been a lot of letters written back and forth, a lot of communication behind the scenes, but I applaud the department and my colleagues on this side here for working together for the residents of the Northwest Territories.

At this point in time, I will be supporting the budget. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.