Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since the makeup of the Cabinet has been announced, I have been getting calls from the media and the public with the concern that there are no women on this Cabinet and that’s the issue that I wish to speak about today.

Mr. Speaker, first off, I want to state categorically that I support Premier Handley and his Cabinet 100 percent. I believe this is a very good team and I know they will work very hard to advance the interest of the people we are all here to serve. I wish in particular to express my full support to Yellowknife Ministers Mr. Bell and Mr. Dent. While very young in age, no one who comes into contact with Mr. Bell is left unimpressed by his intelligence and his ability to analyze and communicate issues. I also know that this Cabinet and government will benefit greatly from the steady and calm leadership based on strong work ethics that Mr. Dent has to offer. I have benefited greatly from working with them both as regular YK MLAs and I would look forward to working with them in future.

Mr. Speaker, what should be noted in this House, however, is the fact that we are now the owner of the only Cabinet in Canada without women representation. We are also a legislature with a little over 10 percent women representation. Given that 50 percent of our population are women, this should cause us alarm. It should also be strongly noted that we have no aboriginal women representation in this House and we have the power and duty to change this situation.

Mr. Speaker, I am fully aware that I am not here as an MLA for women. I am here as the MLA for Range Lake, but by virtue of being a woman and a visible minority, I feel I have the obligation to speak on their behalf. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I come upon this legislature, this Cabinet, and all aboriginal governments to step up to the plate and take strong measures to improve this situation. Any common sense will tell you that this inequality does not happen by chance or accident. It is because there are structural and attitudinal barriers that ensures status quo. It is because there is unwillingness to share real power among all of us who make up our population.

Mr. Speaker, long gone are days when we expect the non-aboriginal people to speak for aboriginal people in this House, no matter how well intentioned or well qualified they are. The same principle must apply to the principle of gender equality. Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to complete my statement?

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

The Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? No, there aren’t. Ms. Lee, you have unanimous consent to conclude your statement.

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, in the coming days and months, the Premier, Cabinet and this legislature will be making important choices about who will not only do the important jobs, but who will be the face of this government. I want to put them all on notice that I expect to see the face reflect equal representation of everyone in this vast land. I would insist that we see an increased number of women and aboriginal peoples in the senior management of our government and on important boards, not just as advisors to men and non-aboriginal people, but as equal players with equal power.

I know, Mr. Speaker, that everyone here believes the constitutionally guaranteed principle of equality and I look forward to seeing us making a huge stride in that regard. I would also challenge the public, aboriginal governments and organizations committed to the principle of equality to take on this task and to work to change the status quo. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause