Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The college in Inuvik is empty, as the Minister probably remembers when he visited. We have all the ingredients to grow a research economy in Inuvik. We are witnessing changes in the land from our climate. We have an all-season road that connects us to the ocean, an abundance of oil and gas resources, a satellite station, and an expanding runway. We are well-positioned to be the hub that services researchers to the Arctic and to train our own people to be the leaders in areas not limited to climate change adaptation, Arctic environmental sciences, cold weather testing, energy innovation and conservation, as well as Arctic policy and governance.

Mr. Speaker, our community is at an economic tipping point. We struggle with high utility and heating prices, rising unemployment, and a small population and a decreasing business sector. Oil and gas has not materialized to its full potential. I am concerned about the future of the polytechnic transformation and how that will impact Inuvik's local economy.

Will the transformation of a polytechnic stimulate our people to educate themselves to obtain local jobs built upon the assets that we have in the western Arctic, to grow our regional economy? Will the transformation of the polytechnic position the western Arctic to be the lead in climate change? Will the polytechnic build on strength of our region to position the western Arctic as the hub for the Arctic reserve and development? I want to see our campus full, and I want our people enrolled in educational courses that will lead to economic development in our community. I will have questions for the Minister of ECE later today.