Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In Ottawa, the people of the north are represented in the ruling Liberal party by two outstanding aboriginal people, Mr. Jack Anawak and the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew. These two people are, unfortunately, linked to the concept of party discipline. Ms. Blondin-Andrew and Mr. Anawak are supposed to subject their feelings, and those of their constituents, to the greater political will of their party and the rest of urban Canada.
Mr. Speaker, this issue is too important to northerners for our two elected representatives to toe the party line and vote in the affirmative. They must come out and support the people they represent, regardless of the consequences. They have no alternative. The electorate will not forgive or forget such an insult to their way of life.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I quote from an article in yesterday's Toronto Star in which Ms. Blondin-Andrew said on the issue of her voting on the gun control bill that, "A person can't die on every hill. You have to pick the hill you're going to die on, but the people in my riding are telling me this is my hill." This quote, Mr. Speaker, is twofold. If Mrs. Blondin-Andrew chooses to vote for her party, she risks losing her seat in the next federal election. If she chooses to truly represent her constituents and vote against the bill, she risks alienating herself from her party.
Obviously, Mr. Speaker, this is not an easy decision for our MPs to make, but they must remember that they were elected to be our voice in Ottawa and that voice, Mr. Speaker, is loud and clear. I trust they will make the right decision for the people by voting against Bill C-68. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.