Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am glad to get a chance to talk to you today, Mr. Speaker. You are the only person I know of who is not running around today with an opinion on the Draft Constitution Package, and I appreciate your restraint. I
have opinions myself, do not doubt that. There are things I like about the Draft, and there are things I do not like about the Draft. But, I am not too worried about what I think at this point. My job right now is to get out to my community. I need to hear the opinions and concerns of the people of Yellowknife Centre. I want to help my constituents understand this package, it contains a lot of information and subtleties that may not be immediately apparent to people who do not follow politics closely.
Let me give you an example, I have been hearing a lot of talk in the last day on guaranteed representation for Dene and Metis people. It is an unusual concept and has caused a bit of controversy already. But, this package attempts, and I stress the word "attempts" to balance off guaranteed representation by giving non-Aboriginal MLAs a voice in the self-government process. Does this mean the proposed process is fair? That is a really good question. Northerners will have a chance to answer questions like that for themselves in public consultation sessions and meeting with MLAs. My voice is but one amongst thousands of equal voices. Mr. Speaker, I am looking forward to the end of this session, it will give me a chance to hit the streets and start talking to people I represent.
In fact, my Yellowknife colleagues and I are hosting an Open House tomorrow at our Constituency Office. We will be distributing copies of the Constitutional Draft and meeting informally with the public. I am very interested in the opinions of my constituents and I will bring their voices and opinions forward in our November session. I was very interested in the proposal made today by Mr. Steen for an independent group of three people to consult the public in regard to the consultation on the Constitution and, I think, this deserves consideration like other ideas that will come forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.