Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this motion is, as folks before me have said, highly emotional, and I also believe it's a highly personal choice, and I respect every single Member in this House to take what decision they take to heart and I respect whatever choice that may be and what that looks like for them. I'm here in my role as a Member to represent my riding and also my own conscience.
I want to speak a little bit about why this motion is important to me and why I feel it's the right thing to do.
When I first met with a Palestinian member of our community in Yellowknife late last year, he asked me why I was willing to take action up to and including those that I have taken today. I told him, first, because I'm a human being. What I think I was trying to say to him was that I can't watch innocent people be harmed and not try to do something even if it's just donations to humanitarian aid or signing petitions, like folks in the gallery have done, or whatever I think may be in small some small part helpful. That is who I am. Now that I am an elected official, I will continue to be the person I have always been, which is someone who wants to help when people are in pain, struggling, or suffering.
I also told him that I grew up with key people in any life teaching me of the Jewish faith. I considered my godmother my auntie growing up, and she was someone I looked to for moral and ethical guidance. I say looked to because she passed in 2002, and may her memory be a blessing.
Like all major world religions, Judaism is rooted in the love for your neighbour, as yourself. Later in life, I was drawn to practicing Zen Buddhism. Without going into a lot of detail, it has informed my way of looking at the world insofar as I believe all human beings on this planet are deeply connected and perhaps in ways we cannot fully verbalize or understand. And so I'm passionate about the interconnectedness of our world, our common threads of humanity. So when I see what is happening in Gaza, I am heartbroken on that level.
On a very personal note, I want to say publicly that by taking these actions I expected that I might be, and all likelihood will be, shunned by my late godmother's family. This also breaks my heart. But this motion and this issue is something I feel I must stand up for and do what is in my power to help and, too, much like the Members who have spoken before, you know, I think it is the best work we can do is to do work where we live, work, and play in the Northwest Territories, and that's why I'm in this House. But it's also why I'm standing up for my community members who are in pain every day not knowing if their friends and family are still alive and watching a genocide unfold before them on their televisions and cell phones. I must follow my conscience and stand for them.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I would like to request a recorded vote.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Question has been called and the Member has asked for a recorded vote. All those in favour, please stand.
The Member for Thebacha. The Member for Yellowknife South. The Member for Kam Lake. The Member for Hay River North. The Member for Hay River South. The Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. The Member for Nunakput. The Member for Tu NedheWiilideh. The Member for Deh Cho. And the Member for Monfwi.
The results are 8 in favour, zero opposed, 10 for abstaining. The motion has passed.
Carried
