Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
WHEREAS the residents of the Northwest Territories have voted for division and on the boundary that will divide the Territory;
AND WHEREAS the coming into force of the Nunavut Act on April 1, 1999, will divide the Northwest Territories;
AND WHEREAS the effect of the creation of the Nunavut Territory leaves the Northwest Territories with 14 electoral districts;
AND WHEREAS the Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides for the right to vote in a free and democratic society;
AND WHEREAS these rights include respect for the inherent dignity of the human person, a commitment to social justice and equality, accommodation of a wide variety of beliefs, respect for cultural and group identity; and faith in social and political institutions which enhance the participation of individuals and groups in society;
AND WHEREAS each citizen is entitled to be represented in government;
AND WHEREAS to provide for effective representation in a Legislative Assembly, electoral boundaries must provide for a fair allocation of its electoral districts.
AND WHEREAS the term of the 13th Legislative Assembly expires in November 1999;
AND WHEREAS the residents of the Western Territory should be permitted to make their views known on the matter of electoral boundaries;
NOW THEREFORE I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, that the Northwest Territories Electoral Boundaries Commission be established in accordance with part 1 of the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act.
AND FURTHER that the Northwest Territorial Electoral Boundaries Commission, in preparing its report, shall take consideration:
(a) the geographic and demographic considerations, including the sparsity, density or rate of growth of the population of any part of the territory and the accessibility, size or shape of any part of the territory;
(b) any special community or diversity of interests of the inhabitants of any part of the territory;
(c) the means of communication among various parts of the territory;
(d) the minimum and maximum number of Members of the Legislative Assembly, authorized by the Northwest Territories Act;
AND FURTHER, the Commission should strive to maintain a balance between urban and rural populations when recommending the boundaries of constituencies.
AND FURTHERMORE the Commission should take into consideration the cultural and linguistic interests of the territories and its present land claim boundaries when recommending the boundaries of constituencies;
AND FURTHERMORE take into consideration any other similar and relevant factors that the Commission considers appropriate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.