Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to state for the record that I have not, I do not, and I will not be supporting the proposal for 19 seats for the western Legislature. I believe it is too much government, I believe that it is also too much money, over $1 million a year as we tell educators and communities, hospitals, needy groups that there is not enough money, that we have no more money.
I also believe that it is very clearly, a major shift in political battles of the fabric of the Northwest Territories as we now know it. This is going to have negative political implications for us as we move into a new territory after April 1st. Especially as we ask our summit partners, as the Premier indicated in his statement, as we go to our summit partners and ask for their support for a northern accord. As we ask for their support for a tax window, as we ask for their support for the transfer of jobs from Ottawa and such to the north. It is going to be very difficult to once again spurn their position and not recognize their concerns on this issue and, on the other hand, ask them for their support. I think we are all going to pay a price for that down the road. We are going to have to work through it, but it is going to make our job much more difficult.
I think we should be looking at doing the minimum necessary to comply with the judgement, which is a 15 member option. We, as a Legislature very clearly, also have to make a decision and time is of the essence. Above all as we debate this very emotional and important issue, we have to protect the ability of the Legislature to function of course. Mr. Speaker, I will be prepared to accept once the final vote is in, the decision of the House on this issue. Until that time, I will be making the case as strongly and as often as I can for the people I represent, and for myself on this very important issue, that the need to be very careful to do the minimum amount necessary. Until the final vote is in, Mr. Speaker, I feel that I have an obligation to raise these concerns. I think it is a fundamental importance to how we are going to evolve as a territory after April 1st. Thank you.