Mr. Speaker, I was attending a Shihta regional council meeting in Deline last week. The task force on firearms legislation had originally planned to go to Norman Wells but apparently, with little over a day's notice, decided to go to Deline where, in fact, all the mayors, chiefs and Metis leaders were having meetings. As an MLA, there was no notice given to me of this and, as far as I know, none of the community leaders either had much prior notice.

I just want to reinforce the concerns stated by the Member for Iqaluit. But there is one thing that I think needs to be said here, because I know the task force went on to the Gwich'in communities and is planning to have further consultation meetings in this part of the Mackenzie Valley this week. The concern I want to share with Members is my observation at this meeting, that there were absolutely no organized presentations. There is a total absence of any summary or description of the bill. Even a biased summary of Bill C-68 would have been welcomed but there was none. There was no description or explanation of the bill in summary form or in detailed form and there was no identification, whatsoever, of even present federal legislation on firearms.

So, for half of the evening -- and it was a four-hour meeting -- people were asking questions, just trying to get basic information. I found, along with the sham of consultation, the total lack of preparation and meaningful presentation or overview by this task force to be alarming. Thank you.

---Applause