Mr. Speaker, this motion is put forward for the protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

WHEREAS the 14th Legislative Assembly recognizes past efforts of the Government of the Northwest Territories in opposing oil and gas exploration and development in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge;

AND WHEREAS the introduction of the National Resource Governance Act of 2001 and the Arctic Coastal Plain Domestic Energy Security Act of 2001, two Bills recently introduced in the 107th Congress of the United States, will allow oil exploration and development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge;

AND WHEREAS the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the most northern and among the largest refuges of the American National Wildlife Refuge System, and is home to the calving grounds of the migrating Porcupine Caribou herd;

AND WHEREAS the Porcupine Caribou are linked to the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in peoples both traditionally and culturally, and as an critical component of their subsistence;

AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada continues to oppose oil and gas exploration and development activity in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to protect and preserve the abundance and diversity of shared natural resources, including the Porcupine Caribou;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories is ardently opposed to oil and gas exploration and development activity being carried out in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and its Coastal Plain;

AND FURTHER, that the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, Premier of the Northwest Territories, communicate this resolution to the Right Honourable Jean Chretien, Prime Minister of Canada;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Prime Minister and the Government of Canada, through the office of the Minister of the Environment, be encouraged to continue to vigorously oppose any threat to the shared natural resources of northern Alaska, the Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories.