Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, there has been a lot of discussion over the last few days among all Members with regard to the Auditor General's report and the implication it has for the leadership of this government. On Friday, my colleague Jane Groenewegen stated in the House that the Auditor General's report is not defendable.
Mr. Chairman, the findings of this report clearly state that the Premier knowingly contravened the policies and practices of this government. He gave public funds to personal friends without any justification.
I do not think there is one person in this House that would say that this is not wrong. What I do see as questions are raised which distract us from the legal, moral and ethical issue at hand. Questions are coming to me from my leaders saying that the land claim and self-government would be jeopardized if Premier Kakfwi is not in this office. Premier Kakfwi stood up earlier and said when he answered the question he is the man to lead us through the self-government. Is he saying that there is no one else in this House who can lead us into self-government? This government has a mandate to support all land claims and all self-government. Somebody gave the people in my riding, my leaders, the thinking that it is going to affect the land claims, which it is not.
This is an issue of breaching policies and procedures. It has nothing to do with land claims. Because of that, I received a letter from the Grand Chief telling me to resign if I do not support Premier Kakfwi. I will not support Premier Kakfwi. Mr. Joe Rabesca...(inaudible)...you will hear me.
Also, some Members feel that if there is a change in the Premier's position, this government will fall apart. This government is already apart. We are trying to put it back together.
Others are concerned about who would replace the current Premier. People think there is nobody else in this House who can replace him, which is not true.
Still others fear that initiatives that are started will not be completed. There are Members in here who are afraid that if they do not vote for him, things that were supposed to be put in their communities will not happen. This is not true.
I would like to ask each Member to look within themselves and look at the situation here. I would ask each Member to stay focused on the issue that we have at hand. I would ask each Member to consider the findings of the Auditor General's report and to consider the situation which led up to the Members calling for this report.
Mr. Chairman, as Members of the 14th Assembly we have created a living document, Towards a Better Tomorrow. This document maps out the direction that we have been following for the past three years and the route that we will follow for the remaining year of our term.
This framework is in place and will not change. Mr. Chairman, as Members we are forced into making a choice. This choice is forced on us because the high road of a willing resignation has not been taken.
As my colleague Mr. Roland said on Friday, personal agendas aside, we have an oath. We have to follow the laws that we set for ourselves. I will repeat the oath of office that each one of us took at the opening of this Assembly, as I did so almost one year ago today when the same question arose: do we have confidence in the Premier?
The oath says:
I will not act nor condone others in acting in ways which exploit, slander or discriminate against each other;
I will not act nor condone others in acting in ways which are dishonest or which exploit positions of privilege for personal gain.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Members to consider this oath when they make their decision on the future of this government.
For myself, I know that if I am to honour this guideline I cannot condone this kind of action that the Premier has shown with regard to the compensation given to his friends. Mr. Chairman, I say I have no confidence in the Premier and it is time for a change. Thank you.