Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to challenge the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, the Premier, the Minister of Health and Social Services and all the chiefs in the Northwest Territories. As my colleague, Mr. Roland just pointed out, Ottawa is penny-pinching on services that they provide in an agreement called treaty.
Under treaty, there is such a thing as non-insured health benefits. In the past, they have given full dental treatments, glasses and health and education. Now what we are seeing today is Ottawa slowly clawing this back. They are slowly clawing the dollars that they have committed to this government, to the aboriginal people of the Northwest Territories and Canada.
I was just reading an article on oil and gas development. Millions of dollars of diamonds are pulled out of the Northwest Territories and the federal government is the one collecting most of the royalties, or will be collecting most of the royalties.
They are the biggest benefactor in terms of collecting taxes from people who work. As the Government of the Northwest Territories, they decide how much money we need. We tell them how much we need and there is a big difference, Mr. Speaker.
At the end of the day, what we are seeing is the federal government slowly taking treaty rights away from people of the Northwest Territories. This government is going to contractual arrangements with the federal government. They are gypping this government as well. When are we as a people and as the Government of the Northwest Territories finally going to stand up and say enough is enough?
-- Applause
We have natural resources, oil and gas, that are badly needed in North America. The price of fuel is going up. We have water. Five percent of the fresh water in the world. That is going to be a big commodity.
We have to stand up and say enough is enough. Mr. Speaker, we need to say no, enough is enough. Unless the federal government wants to play ball with us, why should we be willing to play ball anymore?
Again, I call on the Premier, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, the Minister of Health and all the chiefs to fight for the rights of the people of the Northwest Territories in terms of non-insured health benefits, and just to get our due. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause