Point of order, Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Kakfwi, what was your point of order?

Point of order, Mr. Patterson.

Point Of Order

Mr. Speaker, my point of order is the Member has no point of order. If he wishes to respond to my statement, he can do so through a Member's statement or otherwise. I would request that I be allowed to continue my statement. Thank you.

Mr. Patterson had not concluded his statement. It was impossible, at the point in time when Mr. Kakfwi made his point of order, to see whether or not there will be one. At this point, there is no point of order. Continue, Mr. Patterson and at the appropriate time at the end of the statement, Mr. Kakfwi will have full opportunity to make another point of order. Proceed please, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I was saying, there is a well-established parliamentary tradition of Cabinet secrecy. The statement from Mr. Kakfwi certainly suggests that he was referring to Cabinet discussions on the housing policy which took place while I was a Member of Cabinet. There were certainly no public discussions at the time because the matter was then secret. Mr. Speaker, I believe that if Mr. Kakfwi or other Ministers are going to publicly discuss their recollections of what was said in Cabinet, or between Cabinet colleagues for that matter, then they should be prepared to reveal Cabinet minutes of discussions on those issues so that the full and accurate discussion is revealed.

I am concerned about the apparent breach of Cabinet secrecy, but I am also concerned because the remarks he made are a distortion of my views at that time on that issue. Mr. Speaker, I welcome a reason to open debate on the many issues surrounding this new policy. However, I do not think it reflects at all well on the honourable Minister...

Mr. Patterson, your allotted time has elapsed. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Zoe.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Pudlat.

(No translation provided)

I am not getting the translation. Mr. Pudlat, would you start over again, please, and we will try it again.

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, can you hear me now? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I apologize, we had technical difficulties. We just received our new power plant and had officials visit the community for the official opening of the plant. It was unfortunate Honourable Nellie Cournoyea could not make it to the community, but Mr. Lewis, Mr. Whitford, Mr. Koe and our staff were able to make it to the community. We really appreciate getting a new power plant, but it was very cold outside when the ribbon was being cut.

I also would like to say thank you for the new power plant. We have been trying to get that plant for a long time because the old plant was too close to the community, and it was noisy. We appreciate receiving what we requested. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to speak today on the community transfer initiatives and the implementation plan that was tabled by the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs in November of 1992. I must say I was relieved, as I am sure other Members were, to see that the Minister had finally taken some action on the initiative nearly one year after his announcement in the House that community self-government was to be a major priority of Cabinet. The delay faced by the committees waiting for the government to come up with the plan was inexcusable. Internal bureaucratic conflict must no longer be allowed to compromise the people which the government is supposed to serve.

Hear, hear.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to express today my strong support for the transfer of authority, responsibility and resources to communities that wish to take on more control. However, I want to be sure we do not lose more than we gain. It is critical that the territorial government send a strong and pure message to the Government of Canada from the beginning. This initiative can be construed as releasing the federal government from the fiduciary responsibility to the aboriginal people of the Northwest Territories. The aboriginal people must know that this government is behind them.

Mr. Speaker, these community transfers will not take place in a vacuum. On December 10, 1991, the Government Leader responded to my comments in a debate on this issue by saying that this government cannot deliver broad constitutional answers. This may be true, but this government has a responsibility to ensure the transfer of control to communities is coordinated for the long-term constitutional aboriginal self-government question being pursued at the federal level.

The Government of the Northwest Territories must take the lead towards developing a process for coordinating its plans for community transfer with the federal government. This does not appear to be happening. There can be no more delays. If we want to accomplish successful transfer of control to communities without backsliding and risking...

Mr. Gargan, your allotted time has expired.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to seek unanimous consent to complete my statement.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, there can be no more delays. If we want to accomplish successful transfer of control to communities without back-sliding and risking the rights of aboriginal people, this government must begin now. Thank you.

---Applause