Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as Mr. Erasmus mentioned, a number of Members have spoken about how difficult this question is. I have no doubt that it is very difficult for Mrs. Groenewegen. I have no doubt it is as equally as difficult for the Premier. I have no doubt it is difficult for Mr. Ootes and Mr. Krutko to take the actions they have taken. I know it is difficult for Members here to be talking about ourselves and supposedly judging one of ourselves in an open forum.
Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege and the pleasure of serving the Northwest Territories as a Justice of the Peace, and I remember very early on, sitting in a court room and the accused person would come in. The police officer, whether it was RCMP or local by-law officer would read the charge and give their side of the story. I remember often sitting there, listening to the police officer giving his side of the story and I was thinking, I wonder what this individual is showing up for, he is obviously guilty. I am listening to all this information. It did not take me too long, Mr. Speaker, to find out that there are always two sides to every story. At this stage, my understanding of what the Conflict of Interest Commissioner has advised, in her report is, she needs additional information to make a decision. Something I agree with very much, Mr. Speaker, is an individual's right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. We extend that to people who have been accused of rape or murder. We can surely extend that privilege in this situation. I have concerns, Mr. Speaker, about the precedent it would set if the Premier was forced to step aside. I think it would open up the potential for accusations to be brought against someone, knowing that a precedent has been set, they would have to step aside. I have much more concern about the precedent that would set, than what a small period of time it would take until the Conflict of Interest Commissioner will be able to bring forward her report, and give a more definitive answer to the question that has been asked by Mrs. Groenewegen. So, I will not be supporting this motion at this time, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.