Merci, Monsieur le President. On January 18^th, the Standing Committee on Social Development heard a very interesting presentation from representatives of the NWT Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research Unit, otherwise known as Hotii ts'eeda, which is hosted by the Tlicho Government. Their vision is to support health, research, and training that is rooted in Dene Naowo, lnuvialuit, and Metis knowledge and responds to the needs of patients, communities, and governments.

Hotii ts'eeda recently released a very interesting discussion paper on building a knowledge economy. I strongly support this initiative. I urge our government to adopt this approach wholeheartedly and make it priority. In the view of Hotii ts'eeda, the knowledge economy is using knowledge to innovate, solve problems, create jobs and value. The discussion paper sets out the following principles and ideas:

• Ensure legislation, regulations, and policy makes researchers feel valued and empowered to work in the NWT to undertake research that will result in improving the lives of residents.
• Legislation, regulations, and policy should create an environment where Indigenous peoples have control of research being done on their lands and with their people.
• Research with Indigenous peoples should provide economic benefits primarily to NWT residents and communities. Indigenous governments and research institutes should have a primary role in creating a sustainable knowledge economy.
• GNWT should request information from researchers that will enable us to measure the social and economic impacts and outcomes in the Northwest Territories.
• The polytechnic university should be positioned and built as a catalyst for increasing research funding and innovations in the Northwest Territories.
• Each government department needs to put in place processes for the review and approval of research proposals and to help leverage external research funds.
• Develop science communications and knowledge translation capacity with appropriate funding and support.

I will have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, who has the lead for this government on the knowledge economy, later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.