I'm going to try for a third time. Mr. Chairman, the Minister is assuring me that the information throughout respects the dignity of the individual. My question is, if that is the tone of the legislation, if it is the spirit of the legislation, if the presumption is that the individual shall be presumed to have the right to make independent decisions or supported decisions wherever possible, then why not put it in the preamble of the legislation and spell it out?
So, that those of us who haven't read all the detail and those of us who are not familiar with every nuance of every clause can know, up front, at the beginning of the legislation, that this is what it's all about: that the Northwest Territories is not retreating to the past for its model, is not resurrecting colonial models and principles of the past, but instead is presenting a balanced process that is not going to be paternalistic or like big brother?
I think that is the way to do it. It would certainly satisfy me because I think these preambles do assist courts to understand how they should rule when there are difficult judgements to be made; when there are cross-cultural situations; when there are professionals making judgements about, for example aboriginal elders who may not fully understand the language, let alone the process of the law. Why not spell it out in the preamble, as was recommended by the only association I know that exists to protect and represent people in this category? Why can't we have a preamble in there?
If it is apparent throughout the act, then why not state it up front, at the beginning of the act, like we do in the Official Languages Act? It would give me great comfort if that was there. I would like to know if it was considered, or if it could be considered. Thank you.