Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will not be supporting this motion. Though I would like to thank Mr. Henry for the marching orders he has given us in what to tell our constituents and how to think on this particular issue. I believe we do have a choice. We always have a choice. This is a political arena. It is not a question of right or wrong. It is what is going to be at the end of the day. What this body thinks is in the best interests of the Northwest Territories. Will the government stand still after division? Regardless of the number of MLAs, this government will not stand still. We are

going to be on our own for the first time as a Western Territory and we will evolve. Be it with 14 or 16. I think we create bogeyman out there by all the doom and gloom that is going to happen with 14 Members. I am confident we can make the adjustments necessary to run with 14.

As my colleague, Mr. Kakfwi, indicated, our job is to make tough political decisions. Mr. Henry has made it somewhat of a practice to keep telling us what is good for Yellowknife is good for everybody else. Sometimes I do not always think that is the case. In this case I think a strong Northwest Territories is good for Yellowknife. I will not be supporting this motion and I would trust my colleagues will make the right decision as well, so when we go back to our constituents we can look them in the eye and tell them we made the decision we made because we are in touch with our constituents and not because we were instructed to do so by the Member from Yellowknife South. Thank you.