Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in this bill, I think some people should learn from the past, especially coming from the 13th Assembly. I for one feel we were suckered into passing a motion with bad advice, in which we were under the understanding that through that resolution, we were going to be able to clawback the supplementary pension of the supplementary funds that were there.

I think on that basis, we decided to vote with the understanding that there was a surplus. We had over a $100 million deficit and we had to do something. We looked at every avenue that was out there. We looked at the pots of money available to us. We had to make some big decisions. We made some tough decisions. We were not liked because of some of those decisions, but we had to make the decisions. One of the decisions was because of the amount of money that was in different supplementary funds, if it was possible to take those funds back, put it against the deficit and bring down the impact of the deficit on the people of the Northwest Territories.

We assumed that was possible. We were given information and advice to that, in which we voted on the basis of...the majority of the Members of the House were rookies. I for one was a rookie.

I think it is that type of advice that I have concerns in this bill right here, because my concern is the effects this bill has on other people, not in this Assembly but in future Assemblies, and in Assemblies prior to this will be affected. I think in order to do justice to everyone, we should ensure that we do it right. We do not want to be put into a situation where people can stand up in this House and say, "You are getting a free pension. You are not going to put anything into it."

Just to make it clear to those people out there who can hear me, for me to buy back the pension of the 13th Assembly, that is going to cost me $128,000. Is that fair? I think as a government when we make comments or statements that it is a freebie, it is not a freebie. You have to put into this fund. There is a surplus to this fund of I believe $9 million. The $9 million surplus did not come from the majority of the coffers of this government. Some of it did, but those were put in place because of the good investments by the people that are investing that fund. The intention of a pension fund is how you invest those funds and how you manage those funds. I for one should praise the people who are managing that fund.

Again, getting back to my point, I think it is important as the Legislature that whenever we make statements that we have a one-time option, if you do not buy in by the end of the term of the 14th Assembly, that is it. There is no other alternative. I think that for us to tie the hands of previous or future Assemblies, it limits the ability of a Legislature to basically develop and mold a system that is workable, compatible and you can basically tie it into other Legislatures across the country.

I have to really sit here and bite my tongue when I think about people that I knew, such as Mark Evaloarjuk in the 13th Assembly, who is no longer with us. He did not have a chance to enjoy his pension. We have Pete Fraser who passed away a number of years ago. He was almost at the age of being able to enjoy his pension, but he is no longer here. I know a lot of people in political life, such as Johnny Charlie, who put 30 years of his life into being a community leader. Most of our chiefs and band councillors in our communities do not have a pension.

I think it is sad to say that just because you serve in public life, you have to give up something to get something. I think we are giving up something being in this Legislature. When I came here in the 13th Assembly I do not think I had one gray hair. Now, I am almost looking like Jake Ootes.

-- Laughter

I think the stress and impact of the work that is associated with this, and the effect that it has not only on yourself but previous Members of this Legislature. I know my predecessor to this Legislature had a hard time getting a job after he left office. It took him many months, if not years, to build up that credibility to find a job within the private sector. To develop yourself so you can find those opportunities, for myself, I have served in public service with regard to aboriginal politics since 1984. I have seen a lot of good people come and go, many good people who are no longer with us. That is the part that has an effect on me, looking at ensuring what we do here is fair and that it does not obligate or put restrictions on other groups or people from previous Assemblies and the effect it will have on future Assemblies. It has to be construed that we have a system in place that flows from the previous 33 Members right up to the 13th Assembly, and the ones that are going to come in the future.

On that, I will be making some amendments to the motions to ensure that it is fair. I think that in order to do that, we have to ensure this act is fair. I will be making amendments to the resolution and will speak on that at the time of my amendments, so that people can see exactly how bills or acts we pass in this Legislature have an affect if we do not have all the information, or do not do it with the understanding of what the implications are on previous or future Assemblies. Thank you.