Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I am very concerned about the world oil prices and how they can effect and cause crises elsewhere in the world. Mr. Speaker, years ago we could not assume what happened somewhere else would have an effect locally. One hundred years ago, you know, the perspective on the world was much different; 50 years ago it was much different; and even this summer oil prices were much different and we never would have thought that they would have a link.

Mr. Speaker, today what happens in Iraq and Venezuela has an effect in the Northwest Territories, not just Canada. Mr. Speaker, I am getting at the fact that the reality has changed. We are not just a global economy, but we are a global community and we need to look at those issues. Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about the quagmire that we are heading into because of our reliance on non-renewable resources and the fact is, it is a fact of today.

Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about how we, as a government, are dealing with this situation. Are we monitoring this crisis, or are we going to wait until the bills show up and just act as a reactive process? Mr. Speaker, I would like to see this government be proactive. What are we doing about these problems? What are we doing to reduce our usage? Are we looking at dialling back those heat registers? Are we looking at turning off the lights at the end of the day?

Mr. Speaker, we need to take proactive choices and they need to be implemented now. Mr. Speaker, I would like to see this House someday, in the near future that is, set up a policy where we reduce every area by five percent based on consumption, not on the end bill, but clearly consumption. We need to change the attitude, and with the crises out there as it is, it’s insane.

Mr. Speaker, at lunchtime I went to a website to find out the current crude oil price. It’s $50.80 per barrel. The 52-week high was $55.67. Mr. Speaker, this summer I believe the 52-week low was $28.26. Realities have changed and we have to get on board with the changes that are happening. Mr. Speaker, I need to see drastic action and I hope our government will be taking drastic action through a policy to work towards solving this issue. We need an action plan based on consumption.

Mr. Speaker, I will be closing in seconds, but I want to emphasize I don’t want to see March madness for oil bills, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have a crystal ball or magic eight ball to tell me what to do or what not do on this problem, or else if I did I would have invested in oil this summer. Mr. Speaker, I foresee a lot of special warrants coming forward in the spring, I see a lot coming in the new year. Later this afternoon I will have questions for the appropriate Minister at that time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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