Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the motion. Some would ask how can the Government of the Northwest Territories and Members of this Legislative Assembly support such a motion when development in the Northwest Territories is happening? I would like to point out that we are talking about the calving grounds area. The development that is happening in the Northwest Territories is not in the calving ground areas. The diamond mines, for example, are in the area that the Bathurst caribou herd use, but in a short time during the fall and spring each year. The effects on the caribou are not as great as it would be if the development was happening where they are born.

I believe the Gwich'in people depend on the caribou for subsistence hunting and traditional way of life. It is just good, prudent management to not support any development where the effects of that development might endanger the very survival of a free-roaming caribou herd of that magnitude. With that, I thank you, Mr. Speaker.