Mr. Speaker, I am proud to move, seconded by the honourable Member of Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 85, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act, be read for the third time. And, Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Madam Premier. The motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday during debate during the Committee of the Whole, I expressed many concerns that I had with the process to getting where we are with this bill today. And a lot had to do with the lack of meaningful consultation that our Premier, our Cabinet, the Executive and Indigenous Affairs, did not attend many assemblies to present this to every First Nation group in the Northwest Territories and many times many of them were at the Dene Nation Assemblies. This government has never showed up to any assemblies whatsoever in the Northwest Territories with Indigenous groups to have meaningful consultation. That didn't happen because there were some concerns with certain articles within the document. And those are the things that they wanted to discuss. And after a consultation with the Deh Cho First Nations Grand Chief and after consultation with the Dene National Chief, who informed me that this UNDRIP was opposed at last year's Dene National Assembly. And having said all that, Mr. Speaker, I will abstain from the vote today. Mahsi.
Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. The motion is in order. Madam Premier.
Mr . Speaker, I'd like to, first of all, say that myself and Cabinet, and many of the Council of Leaders, are extremely proud of this bill. I think this is the way of the future. It's exciting. It's scary. It's challenging. And it's about time that we took these steps.
I'd also like to clear for the record, Mr. Speaker, I was accused yesterday and today of not attending assemblies. Mr. Speaker, throughout my term as Premier, at any time that any Indigenous organization, government, has invited me to their assemblies, if I had been free I would have attended. As with other Members, if our schedules allow, we have attended. I do not impose myself as Premier into assemblies where I do not get invited. So if I was not invited, then I did not attend. That is just what I was learned growing up as basic manners don't go to a party unless you're invited.
Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to clarify that this was being accused of my legacy. When I first started in this Assembly, Mr. Speaker, I never even knew what the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Peoples was. I never put it as a priority. I never knew it. It was brought as a priority of all 19 Members. I soon learned what it was and became extremely proud of it and a champion of it as well because it is the right way.
So, Mr. Speaker, this is not if this is passed, this is not my legacy as the Premier. This is the legacy of this 19th Assembly. This states that we believe in the rights of Indigenous people and forever I shall be grateful to all Members who support this bill and the work that was done on it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Madam Premier. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
