Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In opening I would like to send my condolences out to the Robert family of Fort McPherson and also the Allen family of Aklavik. Mr. Speaker, I do not understand why there has been such limited success in affirmative action in this government. We have had a policy in place to support aboriginal people for 11 years. There should be some representation in regards to the number of individuals. We had such limited successes with the Department of Personnel while they were in place. Now that they are not there, what will happen? Who will push affirmative action without the Department of Personnel? I get concerned when we look at advertisements in the papers that seem to be catered to those with degrees, masters and PhDs. It is harder for northerners to get a university education. We cannot just drive down the street or across town to a university. We need the experience of aboriginal people, yet it seems like they are not qualified. However, we have representatives of aboriginal people in the federal Parliament, in the Senate and also Commissioners and Premiers and Members of this House where a majority of them are aboriginal people.
When we look at 1995 statistics, we have poor results in relation to affirmative action. After the layoffs the past two years, the statistics seemed to have worsened. Even departments like RWED are disappointing. Working with wildlife and the environment are areas that many aboriginal people can relate to. In regards to the latest statistics, we hear that 30 percent of RWED employees are aboriginal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.