Good morning, members, witnesses, and guests.
We're delighted to be here in Iqaluit--the place of many fish, I understand. This is a great opportunity for us. We are the members of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. This is the third stop for us in a series of three stops that we have made in each of the territorial capitals in the course of our consideration for advancing the economic development of Canada's north.
This is what we call a comprehensive study. We don't expect to be finished our work until early 2010, but members felt quite strongly, and I share their sentiments, about ensuring that we include stops in each of the territories at the front end of our study. Of course, the consideration of advancing economic development is not just about advancing development for its sake, but rather so it can engender the kinds of positive outcomes in quality of life for people who are the northerners of Canada. We're delighted to be here, as I said.
I'll say a little bit about the format this morning. Some of you may have been in front of standing committees in the past. What we generally do is open with a five-minute presentation from each of the four organizations that are present. When you're presenting and when you're talking with us, since we are doing simultaneous interpretation in the course of our discussions here today, try to keep the pace of your presentation a little bit slower than you normally talk, and that will be a good pace. Don't worry too much about meeting the five minutes. We'll give you a little bit of latitude there. Then after the presentations we'll go into comments from members.
Now I understand also—I'm not sure if he's here—we do have an interpreter here who will interpret Inuktitut, so this is available. If you wish to speak in Inuktitut, we will have the translation properly done for members.
I'm going to say up front, by the way, that I'm going to do my very best to get the pronunciations of the names of all the witnesses here today. Not being proficient in Inuktitut, we'll do our best.
I'd like to lead off by welcoming the mayor of the wonderful municipality of Iqaluit, Ms. Elisapee Sheutiapik.
Mayor, I'm delighted to be here. Please lead off with the first presentation.