Thank you, Madam Speaker. Many of us believe that the federal government has appeared to have failed to live up to its campaign promises, made during the last election, to not allow any more cruise missile testing in the Northwest Territories.
I quote, Madam Speaker, the Honourable Jack Anawak from his speech in the House of Commons debate on the issue. "Northerners recognize that although the cold war is over, other security concerns have arisen. However, they question whether the standard military responses are appropriate, or the only response we can make. In many cases, an economic helping hand may accomplish more for our long-term security interests than a military show of force." Mr. Anawak went on to use the example of the village recently constructed in Siberia using northern firms and expertise as an example of the type of help we should be doing. "No one is surprised about the support from the Reform Party with their "back to basics" conservative policies, but I must express my dismay on the support from the Bloc Quebecois for cruise missile testing given the strength of the peace movement amongst the residents of Quebec. The single most reprehensible fact about the whole cruise missile testing program in the Northwest Territories is the lack of consultation by the federal government. The missile testing program has been renewed twice. Once for five years, and the latest agreement covering a ten year period."
There was no consultation. This legislature has sent numerous resolutions covering the banning of cruise missiles to no avail. Many of the Members of Parliament who had the courage of conviction to side with us in our opposition to the cruise missile testing also lamented the lack of consultation with northerners.
Madam Speaker, we as a legislature have no choice but to continue our fight against cruise testing in the Northwest Territories. There are no economic or moral benefits to testing these relics of the cold war mentality in Arctic airspace. Indeed, we all watched CNN in wonder a few years ago and saw how deadly accurate those cruise missiles could be during the Gulf War.
Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to continue my statement.