Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too will speak in favour of the motion. At first glance, the situation would appear to be a regional issue and would only impact those residents of the Northwest Territories living in the Mackenzie Delta region. I feel that it is one that is consistent with issues that we in the southern part of the Northwest Territories have dealt with and, as development continues in our region, will deal with.

There are many hundreds of people here in Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker, who rely on the caribou herds that migrate into this part of the country. We also have to grapple with how to manage development that is good in some cases with what may be harmful in other areas. I think there may also be a correlation with what we recognize on a national and international basis as areas of free trade and globalization, Mr. Speaker.

We seem to be very quick to adopt things that go across the border that will be for our economic and our industrial benefit, but we must also recognize, Mr. Speaker, that for the ecology and our natural world, we also have to pay attention to what goes on in one jurisdiction and how that may affect the people in another.

I support this motion because I believe it is incumbent on us to ask our neighbours in the other territories and provinces and, in this case, our good friends and neighbours in the United States, to pay attention to what is a very important issue for the survival of a lifestyle and culture of people here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.