Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to take the opportunity to speak about one of the most controversial issues of the day, that being the Affirmative Action Policy, not the hotel tax.
Right off the bat, Mr. Speaker, I can advise you that this is one of the most frequently raised issues an MLA like myself has to address on a daily basis. And we have all heard the arguments on both sides, Mr. Speaker. There are some who truly believe that such a policy is merely an instrument of reverse discrimination, favouring one group over another. I appreciate where they may be coming from.
At the same time, Mr. Speaker, I personally know of many people, in and out of my constituency, who even though they are amply qualified, continue to be discriminated against in their pursuit of employment with the GNWT. Many of them, I might add, Mr. Speaker, are aboriginal people.
The immutable fact is that all forms of discrimination are based on factors no one can change, whether it be gender, ancestry, race, age, disability, et cetera. The list goes on.
My response to this is always that the purpose of the Affirmative Action Policy is to simply ensure that a public body like the GNWT reflects the true picture of the people it serves. I might also add, Mr. Speaker, that this is absolutely in mind with the basic Canadian principle entrenched in the Charter of Rights, under section 15(2).
I have to believe that if we go deep into it, the problem most people have with an Affirmative Action Policy is certainly not with its underlying principles of equality and fairness, but how well the policy is applied in practice. For this reason, Mr. Speaker, if the government is truly committed to this policy and these basic principles, it is crucial that it takes a lead role in being ever so vigilant about all aspects of this policy. At minimum, there must be an effective mechanism in place for independent and fair hearing to all of those who feel they have been unfairly treated under the policy.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I give notice to the responsible Minister that I will be pursuing this further with questions. Thank you.
-- Applause