Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about the process used to select Members of Cabinet. This process was first established by previous Legislatures and has been adopted by a majority of Members of this House. As all Members are aware, under our current practice, this House selects four Cabinet Ministers from the east and four from the west. This selection process does not serve the best interest of the people of the Northwest Territories collectively.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that, especially during these tough times, we must change the way we select the Cabinet so that the best and the most capable candidates are chosen for the job, no matter what part of the territories they come from. It is my opinion that we have reached a stage in our constitutional development at which all Members of this Legislature will have to work together on the equitable process for dividing the N.W.T. into Nunavut and the western territories. To make these important decisions, I believe all Members should have the best interest of the territories as a whole.

Mr. Speaker, when decisions are made to select Cabinet Ministers, I for one, want to see a process in which I can vote for whom I consider to be the best possible candidate for the job, no matter if they are from the east or the west.

Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, the selection of Cabinet should not be based solely on region or culture, but on credibility, honesty and commitment to the people of the Northwest Territories. After all, all cultures in the whole creation...