Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to make a couple of general comments before we proceed into clause by clause review. The last couple of days people have wondered why I have been quite annoyed about some of the procedural stuff that has been going on, and that is basically what they have been, because I think that people have to understand that Members cannot be taken for granted, even if emergency issues like this arise in this Assembly. There is a need to convince Members as to the nature and the reasons why changes to legislation, in the interest of government, are required.
I have had an opportunity to sit on that side of the House as Minister of Justice like my colleague who made the presentation of this legislation. I think what I have found in the last couple of meetings we have held as a standing committee is that we were convinced quite articulately by the Minister of the importance of the amendments. But I was not convinced about the time because if it was so important to proceed with an amendment at this particular late date, surely government should have known earlier that we were in trouble with regard to these pieces of legislation. I am quite sure that the government and the Minister would confirm that they probably knew in November and December and January that we were in trouble.
So I think that when we deal with these kinds of matters and notice of a requirement of this type is going to occur, I think it is a matter of courtesy that the appropriate chairpersons or standing committees are given notice that this may happen. I was not, and I am going to be very blunt and honest to Members here, that I was not prepared today to proceed with the proposed amendment. I think that it is important, again, because it seems that as an aboriginal person we are always trying to respond to the needs of others, despite the fact that they may be legitimate, and I think that the government, and I think legitimately, has to be responsible for addressing the matters that have been identified in past agreements; and obligations that they have signed their names to, we have to live up to. I think that is important.
But we also have to take the view that we have to ensure that those commitments we have made are reflected to all the people that are included in that agreement and in that legislation. I think we have a long way to go, particularly as it applies in some respects to some of the aboriginal communities. I think that having been given good counsel, I guess, by my colleague for High Arctic, Mr. Pudluk, that it is probably, as Mr. Arngna'naaq has pointed out, a request of urgency, but noting the reasonable arguments I think I could concur with proceeding today. But I am still not satisfied with the arguments that were first given to us in our meetings, that indicated that we would conclude with this work by June 30, and then to be told later on that it may not be possible. I think we should be clear about the information we are giving and receiving, and we should also ensure that whatever legislation we are proposing meets the needs of government, but even more so, is based on some facts and arguments that are a bit more truthful.
I am prepared, I guess, at this time and did not oppose unanimous approval, mainly to satisfy the needs of our government, but more so to live up to an obligation that we have been signatories to, including myself. I do hope in future, when you are making presentations with regard to the importance of legislation, that you articulate those issues that are important for us to address, and why we should proceed as quickly as we can, because I would not doubt that if this piece of legislation was so important, that we should have proceeded as soon as we were back at the session; in fact, as soon as we concluded our new rule changes, that we should not have proceeded so that we are not caught by such a tight time schedule. I just wanted to make those comments before I left this particular item.