Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank Members and Mr. Premier for the stimulating debate that we’ve had over this motion.
Like I originally said, it’s a new idea. I didn’t have too much time to develop it and work it in this Assembly. We’re in the dying days of our government. At the same time the perception of our Aboriginal governments out there is that they weren’t involved, they weren’t able to participate, and that’s all they’re asking for, is to be involved, to participate in our government as we move forward with the AIP negotiations, as well as to understand the agreement-in-principle. An elder told me from Wrigley, I can accept the devolution if it benefits our people. But how does it benefit our people other than money that people spoke about? It’s getting involved and those particular details, helping our government understand how devolution will benefit the North.
The Premier’s process of the Aboriginal forum is about acceptance. The door is open to come and accept the agreement-in-principle. That’s not what our Aboriginal partners want. They want, like I said, a process that’s about understanding, participation, and consultation. Then we can start moving forward. I believe that an Aboriginal devolution commission will certainly do that.
Just in closing, I can’t go too much further on that, but that’s the concept. We had the public debate here. I hope that our Aboriginal partners and claimant groups are all listening to this because I believe that it’s an idea that can grow and grow and grow. In the 17th Assembly that’s something that’s achievable and we can really work on. I believe it is at least an alternative. It’s never enough to say no. You always have to have an alternative there. I offer that here today with that motion.
I would like to ask for a recorded vote.
Mr. Menicoche, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Yakeleya, Mr. Krutko.
All those opposed to the motion, please stand.
Mr. Ramsay, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Abernethy.
All those abstaining from the motion, please stand.
Ms. Bisaro; Mr. Lafferty; Mr. Miltenberger; Mr. Roland; Mr. McLeod, Deh Cho; Mr. McLeod, Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mr. McLeod, Yellowknife South; Mr. Bromley.
Results of the recorded vote: in favour, four; opposed, five; abstaining, eight. The motion is defeated.
---Defeated
