Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we face a number of great fundamental issues in the Northwest Territories. One of them, we have clearly heard, is the ownership of resources and added revenues. But another equally pressing issue that is very fundamental to the Northwest Territories is the issue of political development.
Mr. Speaker, the political and governance structures in the Northwest Territories continue to evolve. Division has come and gone, there are seven self-government tables currently in action, and as well as a Legislature, we have a sunset motion that makes it incumbent upon us to address, in the life of this Assembly, the role of this Legislature.
Mr. Speaker, the issue is very basic, in my mind. There are two systems of government that we are talking about here: self-government or the aboriginal governments, and the role of the public government. How do the two governments come together?
Mr. Speaker, I have raised this issue repeatedly through the life of the 13th Assembly. I want to raise it again in the 14th Assembly. In my mind, there is a clear role for public government at the territorial level and at the community level, especially in communities like the one I represent, which is a multicultural community. There are Metis members, non-aboriginal members, and Dene members, working and living together. There is a tremendous amount of history and intermarriage. We have to have a system of government that allows aboriginal governments and the public government to come together.
So as we look at these issues, I want to raise the need for a central public government at the territorial and community level. Very clearly, self-government is happening. It is occurring around us. It is a constitutional issue. We have been debating this. We had constitutional issues before us, last time, unresolved, resulting in the sunset clause.
So, Mr. Speaker, it is something that is not just in the purview of this Legislature. It is something that affects every man, woman and child in the Northwest Territories. I know that we can find a way for aboriginal self-government and public government to work together at all levels. Thank you.
-- Applause