Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have been asked to support this motion, I have also been asked to oppose the motion. Mr. Speaker, I am going to have to make my decision based on a number of facts here that I feel are relevant to the situation.
Mr. Speaker, I have been under an impression for awhile, ever since the court case, that this government really does not have grounds for an appeal. Therefore, I could not support a motion to appeal. On the other hand, Mr. Speaker, I look at who took part in the court case, the Friends of Democracy and the Aboriginal Summit. I note that the Aboriginal Summit did not consist at that time of any Inuvialuit group, namely the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, I do not claim to represent the Inuvialuit Corporation here, but I represent the 95 percent of my population in my riding that is Inuvialuit. Therefore, I must take into consideration what did the Inuvialuit do in this particular situation. What part did they take part in, if at all, in the issue? Since they did not take part as intervenors in the court case, it can be assumed that they will not take part in the appeal, so I do not feel pressured that my original group would be affected strongly by whether an appeal goes forward or not.
I have not been receiving any indication from my riding to either appeal or not to appeal, therefore I look at it that I do not have justification to prevent an appeal. I am under no pressure to prevent an appeal, if it will, in fact, benefit the aboriginal group to appeal, then it stands to reason that it will benefit my riding as well. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, what I intend to do is let the votes decide the issue. If there is a number of votes in favour and the motion passes, then there is going to be an appeal. If the motion does not have the support, it is not going to be because I am not passing my support on. I intend to abstain, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
--Applause