Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to weigh in on the issue of the recent federal cuts and how they impact the residents here in the Northwest Territories.

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The federal government makes across-the-board cuts and it impacts various parts of the country in different ways, Mr. Speaker. Here in the Northwest Territories where we receive $800 million of our $1.1 billion directly from the federal government, these cuts hit us even harder because we have no ability to replace those funds with any type of own-source revenue. We are a territory, much like a person on a fixed income.

Provinces, Mr. Speaker, are a different story. Sure, the cuts will hurt them too, but they have revenue from other sources like resource revenue, sales taxes and other available tax avenues. We have a very limited means and, of course, we only have 42,000 people. Again, it amounts to us being on a fixed income with the inability to replace these dollars.

The impact of cuts on our territory is magnified because of our small population and again our inability as a government to replace these cuts. One-third of the total budget for the NWT Literacy Council, or approximately $300,000, will be lost. We have absolutely no wherewithal to replace that money. To me the recent cuts and the impacts to literacy, volunteerism, tourism and other programs is just an example of the arrogant approach that Ottawa takes when dealing with its three northern territories and specific to my concern, the Northwest Territories.

Resource revenue, devolution and formula financing are such key pieces to our future and integral to our future success as a territory, yet we have no movement in these areas. We can only have, and continue to have, hopes and dreams of them being concluded. We need some leadership, Mr. Speaker, and to step up our fight with Ottawa. We need a vision, we need to focus first and we need all of our people to come together and work together so that we can afford to look after our own programs without the fear of federal cuts. Mr. Speaker, the impact on our territory will be severe because of these cuts, and our residents deserve better and will obviously pay the price because of these cuts.

Mr. Speaker, we have to do more for our residents and we have to take up the fight with Ottawa. These cuts and their impact cannot continue to be allowed to happen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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