Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this decision is garnering national attention, and not all of it is positive. I read in the Edmonton Journal some columnists' opinions that are very negative, very stereotypical. Unfortunately, how the federal government spends their money in the Territories when it comes to aboriginal people, it is clear that they put that aside. They used numbers like $15,000 per aboriginal person for social issues. Mr. Speaker, that is $15,000 for any Canadian citizen that needs social assistance.
Those kinds of issues are not raised. When people feel they have been let down by the court system, they should take the time to get an understanding of treaties and the history of treaties and aboriginal and government relations in the Territories. You know, it was not until 1960 that aboriginal peoples were allowed to vote in this country. There is a lot of history here and Treaty 8 is just a part of it.
Again, Mr. Speaker, it is a great decision. It reaffirms the position that the Akaitcho chiefs and elders have taken for the last 100 years on this issue. Again I caution, let us take a wait-and-see approach. For those Treaty 8 members out there, talk to your chiefs and councillors and find out what they want to do with this decision. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause