Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, there was, as Members recall, a lot of issues raised in respect to the NTI, NSDC submission that was provided to the standing committee. It is our understanding we do have a copy of a letter the standing committee returned to NTI that outlined their response to the issues that had been brought forward. I believe I have indicated, and now indicate here again that, as a government, we, as well will respond to NTI and the Nunavut Social Development Council on the concerns they have outlined. We are not, certainly, dismissing those concerns. They are issues they have raised that are legitimate. We believe that the issues that have been raised have been addressed, quite frankly, and some of the amendments have been made to the act as a result of the standing committee process.
On the one most substantive issue they raised about the lack of extensive consultation, I believe that issue, the standing committee and ourselves have addressed it. It has been mentioned by Members that there has been extensive consultation on these bills throughout the Northwest Territories. As you know, it went forward as a major package of family law reform. We have had the Child and Family Services Act, the Family Law Act and the Children's Law Act, that has already gone through the Legislative Assembly process. The Adoption Act was the last of those four major family law bills that had to be completed. It has only been delayed to this point as a result of us trying to meet the committee's wishes in trying to streamline the process of the structure of the act itself to make it clear.
We can say right now that the Adoption Act before you today is heads and tails above the existing act. The current Adoption Act is outdated. The new act allows for greater transparency, accountability, broader participation, better access to information on formal adoptions and takes aboriginal consultation into a serious consideration including the cultural value and practices that have to be respected in trying to reach decisions on placing individuals. There has been a lot of extensive consultation on these bills. As Members had pointed out, yourself, Mr. Chairman, you are a part of the Family Law Reform Committee that had broad representation from all aboriginal groups in breaching the stage of drafting the initial legislation for the changes for the family law. We think that issue is not such a large issue.
In closing, Mr. Chairman, we recognize there are issues out there. We believe we have addressed them and will continue to work with the NTI and NSDC in trying to address any remaining concerns they may have. Ultimately, it is this legislative body that has the moral and legal responsibility up until March 31, 1999 for enacting laws for all of the Northwest Territories. After that date, on April 1, 1999, if the Nunavut government coming into place feels that this Adoption Act or any other act that they are going to be assuming is not representative of their interests or does not recognize their cultural and traditional values, then they have the opportunity to suspend those laws or to change those laws. Up until then, we have an obligation to try to improve laws in the Northwest Territories for the betterment of all residents regardless of their cultural background and regardless of where they live in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.