Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on a point of privilege under Rule 20(1). My point of privilege concerns an article from the Friday, February 20, 1998, issue of the Yellowknifer. The article is entitled Questions about Confession. Mr. Speaker, the article quotes MLA Jane Groenewegen as stating that, it is unfortunate I was caught up in the dispute. She is quoted as saying;
"I don't want Levi to get hurt, personally or politically. Levi Barnabas is not a person who should in anyway be caught in the crossfire of this."
Mr. Speaker, the article also refers to my refusal to provide a handwriting sample. Mr. Speaker, at the request of the Member for Hay River, just prior to my apology in the House, I provided Mrs. Groenewegen a handwriting sample which was clearly identical to the unsigned note that the Member, Mrs. Groenewegen, took offence to.
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I say again, Mr. Speaker, it was an exact copy. I note that this fact was not mentioned in the article or by Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Speaker, I further take offence to the statement by the reporter, Mr. Richard Gleeson, that I did not respond to the media and refused to provide a handwriting sample. Mr. Speaker, I am responsible for my actions to this House and to my constituents, not to the media.
Mr. Speaker, this article and Mrs. Groenewegen's comments, if indeed, they are accurately reported, suggest that I was lying when I admitted that I was the author of the note to Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Speaker, I do not like the suggestion that I am a liar. I wish to state categorically for the record that I am not lying - that I am not, taking the fall for the Honourable Goo Arlooktoo and to repeat, again, for the record, that I am the author of the note in question - an action which I deeply regret. I trust that my words today will satisfy the honourable Member for Hay River that I was, indeed, telling the truth when I offered my apology to this House last week. More important, Mr. Speaker, I trust that my statement today will put this issue to rest. I deeply regret the fact that this House and Members of this House have been discredited by this unfortunate incident. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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