Debates of February 25, 2005 (day 44)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to talk about our delicate and diversified northern environment. Mr. Speaker, as everyone is well aware, the next step in the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol Agreement has been met with some opposition and question as to the validity and the expectations from all the parties and partners involved.

Mr. Speaker, this agreement and the implications of the agreement will have a direct effect on us all. I’d like to mention something a constituent, who is an environmentalist in his own right, mentioned to me with respect to the protection and the acknowledgement of how delicate our northern environment really is. He could not stress more the need for all residents to realize the delicacy and intricacy of our northern environment and he emphasized the need for information sharing on this topic, because we are always on the front page of the briefings that global climate change agencies and watchdogs review every day.

My friend also made the analogy that we, in the NWT, are like a large piece of litmus paper for the rest of the world when it comes to environmental infractions. By this he means that when any environmental infractions do take place, be it here or anywhere in the world, the effects are not only immediately noticeable in the northern hemisphere, but also long term and, sadly, irreversible in many cases.

So, Mr. Speaker, I’d just like to let the residents of the NWT, industry, government, tourists, everyone know that when we’re out on the land, keep this important thought in mind, because what you do in this very delicate and intricate northern environment North of 60 or anywhere in the northern hemisphere will remain with us for a long time. So when you’re out there, do good. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Hear! Hear!

---Applause