Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will also add a little history to this particular topic. Mr. Speaker, Members of this House ordered the formation of an electoral boundaries commission. This commission was made up by Ms. Schuler, a judge of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories, Ms. Kuptana, an active community leader from Tuktoyaktuk, and Mr. Nick Sibbeston, a former government leader of this House, Mr. Speaker. The report presented to this House recommended that two new seats be added to this Legislature, and it happened that they were in Yellowknife. That report was rejected by this House. A result of our inability to deal with this report fairly spurred the creation of a group calling themselves Friends of Democracy. Mr. Speaker, this group launched an appeal of the decision of this Legislative Assembly in the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. The result of that appeal in the Supreme Court had Mr. Justice Mark de Weerdt render his decision that three seats of this Legislature do not have adequate representation. Mr. Speaker, I cannot support the motion of the Member from Tu Nedhe as I firmly believe that one of the basic principals of democracy, which is guaranteed to each and every person living in Canada, has a right to be represented fairly in their Legislature. The passage of Bill 15 will ensure that. It has been pointed out that some aboriginal leaders are opposed to this report.
At this time, I would like to recognize those aboriginal leaders who, I believe, have had the foresight and the ability to look at the big picture and have been able to embrace the democratic right of equal representation to all citizens of the Northwest Territories. Those leaders, for example, Mr. Speaker, are a former leader of this government, Mr. Richard Nerysoo, the chief of the Yellowknife Band, Mr. Jonas Sangris, my colleague, Mr. Steen, my colleague Mr. Kakfwi. These are some of the leaders who I listen to. They are not scared of democracy. They are not scared of all people in the NWT having an equal voice in their legislature.
We are asked to vote on fairness. As an example, Mr. Speaker, when the Member from Tu Nedhe takes the position for the people he represents in this Legislature, he votes accordingly. Each of his constituents represents approximately nine to one of my constituency. Is that fair representation? No, Mr. Speaker, it is not. What has been proposed to correct this fairness? The introduction of Bill 15 has been the response of this government to correct the unfairness. When Bill 15 passes, the residents of Tu Nedhe will still be well represented in this House, as will the residents of my constituency, Mr. Speaker, and indeed all residents of the Northwest Territories. Residents of our new territory will then be receiving fair representation as entitled and due under the constitution of our country. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.