Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have already spoken on two occasions regarding the federal government's initiatives on aboriginal justice and justice administration. I am concerned about the way the decision was made by the federal Minister of Justice to appoint the Northwest Territories Chief Crown Counsel as Director General for the Council on Aboriginal Justice and Administration. When she was questioned on April 8 about her judgement in making this appointment, the Honourable Kim Campbell told the House of Commons that "when I was in Yellowknife in September with the federal/provincial meetings of Ministers responsible for Justice, I had the opportunity to see how this individual was received in his community and how he was regarded by aboriginals and women in that community." Mr. Speaker, I have personally reviewed the agenda and list of participants who attended the federal/provincial meetings. There were no aboriginal women in the final list of delegates from the Northwest Territories. Department of Justice personnel have confirmed that the public input during the federal/provincial meetings was nil. No public organizations were invited to contribute. On February 25, 1992 I was asked by our former Minister of Justice, the Honourable Dennis Patterson, about this appointment. He has responded that he was generally aware of Mr. Avison's departure but was not precisely sure of his irresponsibilities. This response does not make me think that the Minister had been involved in government to government consultations surrounding Mr. Avison's April appointment.

Aboriginal people in the north and throughout Canada have waited a long time for the federal government to begin to address the many outstanding issues that surround the treatment of our people by the justice system. As a major stakeholder in any review of aboriginal justice, I would hope that our government would take the lead role in monitoring and providing input to the current federal initiative.