Mr. Speaker, I rise on a matter of privilege regarding comments made in the Hay River Hub column "On the Ledge" by Ms. Devine on April 25, 1995. Ms. Devine says the following, and I quote: "According to CBC, Kakfwi said he simply won't enforce the new law if it goes through, as is."

Mr. Speaker, Ms. Devine is mischievous and wrong. I did not say I would not enforce the new law. Ms. Devine has not spoken to me and is using a CBC reporter's comments and attributing them to me. I believe this is a lazy, irresponsible, lumpy, deadline-form of scribbling for journalism and she did not check her facts. In fact, it is not up to this government or myself, as a Minister, to enforce Bill C-68, should it pass. The federal Minister of Justice is also the Attorney General for the Northwest Territories. He has the responsibility for prosecutions in the Northwest Territories, he will have to enforce this law should it come into force.

Should we assume responsibility for prosecutions, the Minister of Justice, whoever it is, would have no choice but to enforce the law. This is, in part, why we're working so hard to seek amendments to this legislation before it is passed by Parliament. Thank you.

---Applause