Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to say some more things about the cruise missile testing today. Mr. Speaker, I was absolutely appalled with the information we received yesterday. The Government of Canada and the Government of the United States have signed an agreement which will allow cruise missiles to be tested over the Mackenzie Valley for the next ten years.
Yesterday, when I asked the Government Leader whether the Government of the Northwest Territories had been asked for input, she stated that we were not consulted. I find it completely unacceptable that the federal government did not even discuss the matter with the Government of the Northwest Territories or the leaders in the Mackenzie Valley. It is a shameful way for them to conduct intergovernmental relations. I was also annoyed that the Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Kim Campbell, has not yet agreed to meet our Premier to discuss this. I am not willing to accept this conduct on the part of the federal government, Mr. Speaker. Their attitude is 20 years out of date. I have written the Minister of National Defence this morning to express my concern, for the people in my constituency, and to encourage her to meet immediately with our Premier on the matter. I will table the letter tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, these war machines, the ones which test over Dene land, have been created to destroy and to kill. Again, I say it is offensive for the federal government to use the northern skies to prepare these missiles for use without even asking us. Mr. Speaker, we are going to have to make sure the federal government understands that we have a voice. I think that the time is here for the Premier to insist on meeting the Minister of National Defence and we should not accept "no" for an answer. I am not willing to tolerate the disrespect and lack of consideration which the federal government has demonstrated to this Assembly, to the people of Nahendeh, and to all northerners on this issue. Mahsi Cho, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause