Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is a very difficult issue to discuss. It surprisingly is an issue where a question was asked of me immediately after getting elected. A constituent came up to me and asked me my position on it, same-sex couples. I realized then that it was not something I knew a whole lot about, so I have spent a lot of time listening and trying to develop an opinion on this issue. It has been on the table. It has been in our committees for quite some time now. I have heard arguments for and against. I have heard even today, as the Minister presented the bill, he spoke of statutes and laws and constitutional rights that were violated.
We also heard some of my colleagues here say that if we do not pass this, we will be challenged in court. We also heard other arguments that this bill is not necessary. It is against religious beliefs. We hear a lot being spoke here today about rights.
What really bothers me is that we have a number of aboriginal governments out there. We have said many times that we will operate government to government to government. Yet on this issue, an issue that affects everybody in the North, there is no consultation. What does that say about the people of the Beaufort-Delta who have worked hard for self-government? To the Dogrib Nation? To the Sahtu? I cannot believe we are proceeding to this point without a process for them to get involved.
The Deh Cho is now in the negotiating process. They are working hard to be recognized as a primary government, yet we do not have the courtesy to extend an invitation to them. I am appalled that this Minister did not go to any of the communities in the North to discuss this.
To pass this bill, to support any bill, in my opinion, without proper consultation with aboriginal governments, without the aboriginal government's involvement is a slap in the face to them. Putting an ad in the newspaper is not adequate consultation. I have said it before in terms of resource development in community projects and I will say it again. It is not acceptable to me.
I realize that should this bill go forward and get the majority of the votes here today, it will go to committee and there will be a hearing. That hearing will be here in Yellowknife and not in any of my communities and not in any other aboriginal communities of the North, that is for sure.
Mr. Speaker, we talk about rights, yet my colleagues on the other side of this room, I do not believe they will have a free vote. I do not believe they will be able to stand up to speak their true feelings on this issue, feelings that their constituents are expecting them to defend.
I have to request that the Premier allow his Cabinet to have a free vote on this. I would also like to request that this vote be recorded.
Mr. Speaker, I am not against this bill totally in principle, but rather on process. I will not support this bill as it stands. Thank you.
-- Applause