Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last night I had an opportunity to meet with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and I would like to indicate some of the concerns and important issues they see. First of all they reiterated their desire to have their own constituency along with the Ingraham Trail which would be called Weledeh. They also indicated their exasperation with the affirmative action issue, the fact that not very many of their people seem to be getting jobs with the territorial government.
They also indicated that with the creation of two new territories, perhaps it is time for the west to clean out some people who may not be doing the best of jobs and to get some new blood into the system. They also expressed the concern about the new gun law that will be put into effect and how it will affect them during their hunting and the rest of that. Also the many times it was brought up, the new traps that have to be used, it is very difficult, particularly for the older people to use the new traps. The huge burnt area in the North Slave here also was of a great concern. The feeling was that perhaps, if people had moved faster the land would not have been burnt so bad, particularly since it is good caribou area.
Also of great concern that the children are losing their language and that the government should work more on this. Of particular concern, many people spoke of this also is the seniors' fuel subsidy that it is simply not enough. They feel it should be enough to last a senior all year. The final issue I want to bring up, although there were many others, the concern was that with the creation of two new territories, that in the west there should not be a deterioration of programs and services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.