Thank you, Mr. Speaker. "They didn't understand that years were numbered. Today, Inuit understand calendars." Another problem is at the time that project surname was conducted, people used their given names. For example, those who were born shortly after project surname will be registered in Winnipeg or other southern cities under a given Inuit name and not necessarily under their last name.
To complicate things even more, the nurse or interpreter, who registers newborns for live births, will spell the name differently from the present spelling by that individual. When that individual tries to get a birth certificate, the Registrar General is unable to find any record of live birth for that individual. Mr. Speaker, I am saying this from first-hand knowledge. I have a younger brother who is alive today, without a birth certificate, all because the Registrar General in Winnipeg is not able to find his registration of live birth.
I am to the point now where I would even suggest that a comprehensive project, such as project surname, be conducted. The person who performs the project does not have to interview each and every individual. Most of the work has been done by Abe Okpik. He or she will only have to call on those who need to have their birth certificates corrected. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause