Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the Padloping Island and Qivittu relocatees. Padloping Island and Qivittu are former communities near Broughton Island. Their residents were located under duress to Broughton Island in 1968 by the territorial and federal government.
The two levels of government met many times with the two communities to urge residents to consider a move to Broughton Island. In Broughton Island, the government promised to improve public housing and health care services. However, the residents knew that game and other economically harvestable animals were in short supply near Broughton Island. As a result, they refused to move at every occasion, much to the government's dissatisfaction. The governments then resorted to emotional tactics, telling people if they did not move or relocate, they could end up dying because if they became sick, no one would come to assist them.
After several visits and misleading presentations, the government was eventually able to convince some of the residents to move. Others who did not share this point of view or were out on the land saw their houses and possessions transferred to Broughton Island without their knowledge or consent. Mr. Speaker, imagine the surprise when families out on the land returned home. Structures that were difficult to move were bulldozed over. In addition, the dogs were shot to facilitate the move.
To sum it up, Mr. Speaker, when the government's emotional tactics did not work, government officials took physical action. As I have stated, these shameful actions included the dismantlement and relocation of houses and possessions in the absence of the homeowners, the burning and bulldozing of qammaks and shooting of all the dogs. Individuals that experienced this ill treatment by the two levels of government have been abandoned and left with numerous social, physical and psychological problems.
Mr. Speaker, I support the relocatees in urging our governments to do their part to make this healing whole and complete, and ensure that justice is done for these victims of abuse. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause