Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too will be speaking in favour of this motion. Mr. Speaker, people in my riding did not overwhelmingly respond to this survey as well, but I believe it is because it is a very complex issue. It is not something we can expect the average person in the street to be able to respond to in such a short time. That may have been one of the reasons. But as to whether or not the people in my riding are proud to be Canadians, Mr. Speaker, I do not think that is a question. I believe on June 6, 1984, when the Inuvialuit land claim was signed with the federal government, the people were proud at that time to become part of the Canadian society and to be accepted as full Canadians.

The people were proud they were finished dealing with a country that was honourable enough to recognize their claims and felt obligated to fulfil those commitments, under the claims. Mr. Speaker, Inuvialuit on their part did their share as far as contributing towards Canadian unity.

I believe Inuvialuits felt at that time they were bringing a portion of Canada into Canada because they brought their lands with them, when they signed the claim. Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of public who are not aware there were some restrictions as to what could be negotiated at these claims, during the claims process. Inuvialuit and I believe other aboriginal groups had been told we could not consider separation and we could not consider to claim any lands that had proven oil and gas reserves or mineral deposits on them. Those were the restrictions put onto what they could claim, during the claim process. I believe that was the result of the federal policy at that time. It therefore brings to mind a question to the Inuvialuit as to why the government would consider separatism with anyone else at this point in time or any time in the future? Because we were told, as Inuvialuit that we do not have that option of sovereignty, we could not be a sovereign nation within Canada. We would have to be part of Canada. We accepted those terms, Mr. Speaker. So therefore, the question of Quebec separatism, the overall question of Canadian unity, seems to come to us as an odd statement or request that would be honoured by anyone, in particular the federal government because we were told we would be treated the same as all other groups within Canada.

We were also told the sharing of resources, in particular those resources we could not claim, would be shared by all Canadians, including Inuvialuits. We were also told that the opportunity for economic development and jobs would be given to all of us as Canadians in particular, if the development was in our area, we would be given preferential opportunities to take part in these resource developments.

Mr. Speaker, I believe the federal government has some commitments yet to fulfil in order to meet the requirements of a claim and we feel as aboriginals we are short of. The federal government will be honourable enough to fulfil those commitments under the claim.

In particular, we would like to see the federal government assure that Inuvialuit in my riding first, if development is in that area, in particular, mining or oil and gas opportunities, would be shared with Inuvialuit. We would also like to see this followed through with this government. This territorial government would have a share of the resources, within the Northwest Territories.

We would also like to see the federal government take responsibility in assuring that other aboriginal groups have a share in the resources from their area. This would assure all Canadians that we, as Canadians, have an opportunity and a right to share in the resources that are taken from our area. This would in turn show unity because it would discourage separatism. That is what I believe, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

--Applause