Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today is in regard to the Electoral Boundaries Commission and the court case in the new Western Territory. Mr. Speaker, I would like to read for the record that I am opposed to such a decision, such a move, in the Western Territory in light of the aboriginal self-government efforts that are going on, land claim negotiations, and also participation between this government and the aboriginal leaders of the new Western Territory.

As you know, Mr. Speaker, I represent a diverse riding which includes the Inuvialuit, the Gwich'in and non-aboriginal people. Mr. Speaker, it is clearly spelt out in the Inuvialuit Final Agreement and also the Gwich'in Land Claim Agreement that the aboriginal organizations will be full participants in any changes to the system of government in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, also, the self-government process that is presently underway in the Beaufort Delta allows for the Inuvialuit, the Gwich'in, the non-aboriginal people of the Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort Sea to establish a system of government that reflects the communities and the region, which allows all three groups to sit down and negotiate a process of transferring programs and services to the people of the Mackenzie Delta.

This system, Mr. Speaker, can be implemented anywhere and I think at this time the aboriginal groups are asking for the time and asking for this government and for the people of the new Western Territory to work out a relationship between the aboriginal people of the Northwest Territories, the non-aboriginal people, the aboriginal land claims and the groups that have negotiated land claims, to sit down and discuss this issue and find a workable solution to resolving this outstanding issue of fair equitable representation.

Mr. Speaker, in concluding, one of the fundamental principles of formulating the Boundaries Commission for the Western Territory was the recommendation of binding election boundaries such as cultural, historical, and also location, communication, transportation barriers that communities meet. That is one of the fundamental points that was in the recommendations to the Boundaries Commission to consider. Mr. Speaker, that is one of the things that is missing from the whole report that was submitted to this House by the Boundaries Commission. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.