Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to say thank you to all our colleagues here, both the Regular MLAs and to the Cabinet, for the hard work that went into this budget. I know that we don't always get what we want, but I am pleased with the budget. I am pleased that there's more money put in the budget for housing. And we know that there's a lot of problems in the small communities, mental health, and drugs in small communities are on the rise, and there are efforts being made to address those issues. And similar to what my colleague from Mackenzie Delta said, there is room for improvement. But there is a good working relationship with the Cabinet and with the Regular MLAs and with the Indigenous government and organizations which I am pleased about.

I feel like the government is listening to us, you know. They're listening, and they're hearing our concern. With all the statements that we have been making since last year, since last -- well, last fiscal year and the beginning of the last fiscal year as well too, so they have been listening, they have been hearing our concerns for that reason that there's more money put into the housing, and which housing is a major issue in small communities so I am quite pleased about that.

There is something that I am worried and concerned about is that in Tlicho region that Tlicho communities are growing, and they are expanding. For example, Behchoko, they're building a new subdivision. That means that there's going to be a new -- more houses that's going to be going up and a new school will be built. So the thing that I see problem with here is that MACA, MACA funds, it's not going far enough. That one we need to -- that needs to -- they need to start focusing on working with small communities, especially the communities that are expanding, that are growing. More of our people are going home. You know, we're not living -- there's a lot of social issues in all the communities, even in the larger regional centres. Because of that, there's a lot of people that are saying they want to go home. And we have seen that happen in many of the small communities. So I am quite pleased with the budget right now, but it's just that the MACA needs to start focusing on working with the community government. And in Behchoko alone, that we will need more program and service delivery when the new expansion -- when we complete the new subdivision and with the infrastructure as well. So I am pleased. For that reason, for a lot of other reasons too, I will be supporting this budget as well. Thank you.