Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to congratulate the many people involved with the historic events in Nunavut in early November. I congratulate in particular the constituents I represent in Iqaluit for once again doing their duty as citizens to vote and realize the long-held goal of Nunavut alongside the settlement of the Inuit land claim.

Mr. Speaker, this was my main motive for seeking public office in 1979, and the people of Iqaluit have been behind me ever since. It has been a long struggle since this Legislature agreed in principle to the division of the territories while sitting in Frobisher Bay in 1981. That resolution lead to no less than three major public votes, each of which could have set back the process had they failed. Over each vote my constituents kept themselves informed, and they took those votes very seriously. The April 14, 1982 plebiscite on the principle of division was the closest of all. If it had not been for the very high turnout and very high "yes" votes in Iqaluit and other Nunavut constituencies, that plebiscite would not have succeeded.

Again, on May 4, 1992 it was the high turnouts and strong consensus which pushed the total votes over the top to "yes".

The final vote was November 3, 4 and 5, and although this vote was confined to Nunavut alone, there were still obstacles to overcome. First, according to the strict rules on this vote, an abstention was counted as a "no". There were other obstacles. The enumeration in Iqaluit was very poor. Many lifelong residents found themselves not on the list and there was no way they could be sworn in. Added to these challenges was a power failure in the middle of the voting which delayed the final day, and 65 to 80 kilometre winds in minus 20 degree temperatures on the final day. The Inuit...