Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have great respect for the opinions of the Member for Thebacha, but I also know that the committee, whose report we are debating, considered this issue at some length and is representative of constituencies from all across the territories. I just want to say that I believe this is a difficult question because like many of the issues that face us as legislators, there are advantages and disadvantages to raising the drinking age.
One of the advantages is that it may prevent some young people from starting drinking when they aren't quite ready to handle that responsibility. It may help reduce some of the problems that we see among some young people who have alcohol problems. I am not unaware of the problems that young people have with alcohol, whether they are 19 or not. However, Mr. Chairman, the other side of it is that if the drinking age is raised, then it becomes the forbidden fruit and there may well be a tendency for people to resort to illegal means to obtain liquor, exposing themselves to getting into legal trouble or they may resort to other non-legal abuses like drugs.
Mr. Chairman, I am sure that my constituency has opinions on both sides. I suspect that elders in my constituency may feel that raising the drinking age might diminish the alcohol problem, but there are probably many younger people in my constituency who feel that since they have the right to vote, the right to join the army and defend their country, they should have some of the privileges that are associated with those rights as well.
So, Mr. Chairman, I don't think this is a simple question. I suppose that is why the Member is suggesting it be put to a territorial vote in conjunction with the forthcoming election. The first question I would like to ask, Mr. Chairman, is -- and maybe the legal advisor or the Clerk could assist -- is there a mechanism to put a question like this on the territorial election ballot if we should approve this motion? I know there is a Plebiscite Act that allows us to have a plebiscite on any question, but those have traditionally been stand-alone plebiscites. I think the last one cost almost $750,000. So I guess before we vote, I would like to ask if someone could enlighten the committee; is there a way to do what Mrs. Marie-Jewell suggests be done; that is, add a question to the ballot in the forthcoming territorial election. So in addition to electing your local MLA, you would be giving an opinion on the drinking age. Is there a way of doing that under the present Election Act? Thank you.