Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to take this opportunity to respond to what appears to be a theme day on the part of the Cabinet on energy issues. Mr. Speaker, I have to say that I like some of the points raised by Cabinet, especially the fact that the Arctic Energy Alliance is going to receive the kind of respect and financial resources that I believe they have deserved for a long time. There was lots of warm and fuzzy stuff said in those statements, but if anybody was looking for a very specific financial break in regard to the rising fuel costs, I don’t think anything was to be had there.

Mr. Speaker, especially deficient is for the help of the working poor, who make just enough money to not qualify for any income support or supplementary income programs, but not enough to easily absorb the increasing costs of heating and lighting our homes this winter. I believe, Mr. Speaker, there is room for the government to move in this regard and that is by giving incentives to working people to make their homes more energy efficient. The Government of PEI is doing something similar for those making less than $30,000 and I don’t believe, Mr. Speaker, anybody would suggest that the cut-off in the Territories should be at $30,000. I believe most programs in the Housing Corporation cut-off are about $70,000, and I’d like to suggest to the government that there be some incentive programs done up for those making up to $100,000 of family income where a package of $300, $500 or $1,000 could be given for the measures that the homeowners will take in conserving energy, whether they are replacing a leaky fuel tank, water tank, or extra caulking on their windows or hiring an expert to see whether their homes are energy smart. I believe there is lots of technology there and we, being the human beings that we are, will probably do more if there’s some kind of financial incentive, and it would be to the benefit of the government and everybody.

I believe in the long run the best policy is energy reduction, and I have already asked the Minister of Public Works and Services to provide us with an inventory of all government buildings and see what kind of energy consumption measures could be taken there. I look forward to getting a report from him.

I would like to finish this statement by really encouraging the government to come up with incentive programs that would deal with consumption reduction. Thank you.

---Applause