Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In researching the original development of the Affirmative Action Policy, some questions were raised that the draft policy would exceed what the Human Rights Commission would approve. The question needs to be looked at. How did the Department of Justice and the government of the day address concerns that this policy not exceed what the Human Rights Act would normally allow in under-represented programs in specially employment areas?
Let me tell you how I feel about this whole issue. I am supportive of ensuring the makeup of this government and its civil service is reflective of its population. I truly believe there are inequities to be solved. But is the Affirmative Action Policy the answer to solve that inequity? I do not know because I have nothing to go on, no convincing detail data. There are defenders of this policy and there are detractors. The other day, Mr. Henry stated that he wanted this policy eliminated. Let us stop right now and get the government to address this issue. Have them do the research and bring forward the data. I am all for a revised approach that gets rid of the mistrust and suspicion this policy seems to create. In our jurisdiction, we are in an unique situation. We are one of four minority groups. The aboriginal people are in fact the majority of our population. While the original inhabitants of the north are the majority, they remain seriously under-represented in commerce, business and government. There is no good reason why they should remain economically and financially deprived in the north.
We have an opportunity to get the economic situations of the aboriginal peoples correct and not on welfare. The affirmative action policy needs full review and analysis. All of the stakeholders affected by that government policy need an opportunity to revisit the policy and honestly reassess its true intents. The Human Rights Act and employment equity legislation was served as our base to revamp our approach here in the north. In the north, we can do what the rest of the world could not do. We could ensure the aboriginal people become fully educated and masters of their social and cultural change processes and wealthy by all measures of their traditional and Canadian ways of life. We need to do this in a fair and equitable way to all our northern citizens. I urge all concerned Members of this House to join me in a concerted effort to become a model of true success where one jurisdiction got the health and well-being of all its people right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.