First of all, Madam Chair, I just wanted to address the whole energy initiatives that are listed on this page, and you know, when we're coming out of a pandemic, I'm very much about larger projects. And you know, I look at the Taltson expansion, just the pre-construction, which means really little because by the time we get it done, I'm sure I wouldn't be around because I mean it's -- the way government moves, it's so slow. One phone call, one maybe every three months on it or something. And this is what I'm hearing from the communities.

And so, you know, it's troubling sometimes because, you know, the larger projects should be a priority instead of piecemealing all these other little things, and we're putting bad money there instead of to the project that's going to look after everything.

That's not the way business is done usually in the real world, but in a government world, I guess that's the way it is. And it's troubling sometime when I sit here, and I also want to make sure that we're talking about green energy here when we're talking about hydro. People talk about the environment and all these things. Well, what could be more greener than hydro power? And you know, we're going with Inuvik wind, and then we have electrified gas, and then we have two smaller hydro projects somewhere else, and we don't get the actual communities because it's in another document, and you forget after you read it, like, a couple months ago, and we haven't been here for a while.

I just want to say that overall, because 87 percent of this money comes from the federal government, I think it's a positive thing. I think that all the new procurement policy that's being put before us is going to address some of the benefits that we want from making sure that dollars stay in the North.

And, you know, I've always been very much about pro-development but balanced development. And as an aboriginal person and a former chief, I want you to also know, Madam Chair, that, you know, the environment has always been very close to all people in aboriginal backgrounds and cultures hearts. Just because I talk about business in a strong and whatever way, we also have to make sure that we also look after what we know from birth. And that's our water, our land, and everything around us.

I think that, you know, you have to have some big projects in order for us to expand and for economic growth and to make sure that we have monies in the future for the social envelope.

That's the way it works in the real world. It's just that it takes too long sometimes with government, and that frustrates me a bit because I've been very strong in business, and I'm used to doing things -- if I'm going to decide tomorrow that we're going to build this 20 some million dollar building in Fort Smith, I'm going to make sure that it's going to be done in two years, and it's done. I don't wait ten years for it.

It's very frustrating for me sometimes, but, you know, I try to accommodate all those things and understand that there's certain processes that we have to go through here.

And I just want to thank the Minister for a lot of these ones are here I think are great. It looks after all different areas in the North, and I think you're on the right track. I want to compliment you on that.

And that's all I have to say. Thank you, Madam Chair.