Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As of last week, it was hard not to pick up the paper, scan the local news on the Internet, or stop in a coffee shop without the people talking about this interim report by the Electoral Boundaries Commission.
Frankly, I’m excited to hear from the people about their thoughts on democracy, whether it’s representation by population, representation by culture and language, representation by geographic distribution, or a combination thereof.
Mr. Speaker, it would be easy for Members to weigh in on this topic, but I will refrain from commenting on the subject for now as I feel this is a time for the people to share their voice.
We have been elected to listen and, more importantly, hear the wishes of our constituents, and to pre-empt this process by jumping the gun, and speaking out now before the people have had a chance to share their views is definitely not in the best interests of positive outcome.
We ask that all residents across the Northwest Territories take the time to inform themselves on the mandate of the Electoral Boundaries Commission to review the three options that were presented to report on, and to think what would be the best solutions for the entire Northwest Territories and future generations.
Our future rests in the hands of the people. We will be facing some difficult choices in the months to come, between the promises of this future and the prisons of our past. Mr. Speaker, we can’t afford to get this wrong.
In closing, all we ask is that the people of the Northwest Territories attend the various Electoral Boundaries Commission’s public hearings, or submit their comments directly to the commission itself. I would further ask that my colleagues here in this House allow due process to proceed in the proper sequence. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
