Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to continue to address the issues raised by the Premier and Minister Antoine yesterday in regard to western governance. There are just three key areas I would like to touch on quickly that require more discussion I believe and pose a lot of questions. The way I understand this process, it is a Constitutional Working Group and the whole constitutional process which will define eventually the role of the territorial government. The partnership approach and the parallel approach will be defined through negotiations with the aboriginal governments and relate specifically to regional and community governments.
These processes are linked Mr. Speaker, it is critical for the negotiators right now at the tables negotiating with the aboriginal governments to have a clear idea of what is on the table and what is not. That requires definition by the territorial government as to what constitutes a central public government, in terms of ability to raise revenue, taxation, setting of standards, ability to redistribute wealth so, in fact, there is no huge regional disparities. It is critical our negotiators have a clear mandate so that we can address these concerns and address the concerns raised by the aboriginal summit about the lack of clarity with the direction
provided to our negotiators.
On the issue of the partnership approach, discussed briefly in this House yesterday, it is a process that also requires definition. The way I understand that approach there is a potential for most municipal governments to disappear. That is a very serious step. In the community I represent, where we have the band, Metis nation, as well as the town council, I believe a central public government at the community level is also critical that represents all of the people. I am not sure what is meant by the government as we look at that very major step. If it is a partnership approach, the way I read it we have gone back to a combined model that was initially proposed by the Constitutional Working Group. That gets to the issue of guaranteed representation and I recollect very clearly and painfully the response we got from the public on that particular issue.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, on the issue of the parallel approach, once again it is a definition, it is a label that needs significant definition. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.