Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the basis of the media reporting based on what I said yesterday, I am afraid that I may not have been as clear in what I said, so I would like to elaborate a little on it. Mr. Speaker, it should be understood that in my statement, I was not challenging the soundness of the legal opinion Mr. Miltenberger gave us in the House. What I am challenging is the interpretation of that opinion that he has chosen to put on it.
I believe strongly that the legal opinion in question does not have the evidence to support that Cabinet has broken its own law. I believe strongly that the legal opinion in question does not have the evidence to support that there has been any conflict of interest arising out of this issue.
In fact, the opinion states to the contrary, and I quote from the opinion, No. 5, page 9, where it says that "There is no direct evidence of any legal conflict of interest arising out of Mrs. Sorenson's appointment." I also believe the opinion is based on incomplete information due to the confusion and uncertainty about the function and substance of this position. The writer of the opinion accepts that. I quote from the opinion, page 3, fourth paragraph: "Any exemptions to political involvement in the statutes and regulations seems to be based on the job title and function of the position in question."
Again, Mr. Speaker, I am not making a judgement about the opinion. I respect this opinion as the opinion of a professional. The point is that the opinion is based on admittedly incomplete information, and therefore it is an incomplete and inconclusive opinion, subject to more information. One has to be very careful in how it is used.
The allegations, Mr. Speaker, that have been made and spread out all over the media based on this legal opinion are very serious and far reaching. It goes to the trust and respect the people in the North have about the integrity of this government, of the consensus government we are all a part of.
Moreover, Mr. Speaker, another implication arising out of this is that any person working for this government can become a subject of discussion in this House based on incomplete or misinformed information where they do not have the power to defend themselves. Mr. Speaker, we live in a small town, even in Yellowknife and in this Territory. For most of us, all we have is our name and our reputation, and no one should have the ability to use their power to damage that.