Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a Member of this Assembly representing my constituents of Nunakput, I often wondered in the past how much attention my constituents pay to my salary issues when they are raised in the newspapers or in this House; my pension issues that are raised through the newspapers or through the media and through this House. Interestingly enough, I do not recall the salary or the pension being an issue at the election both times I was elected. It just was not one of the issues.
I do not think it is an issue now. I do not think my constituents would feel all that upset should I vote in favour of a pension for myself. Also, I do not feel that I have to answer to the newspapers or to the media for my vote here. I may not even feel that I have to answer to the rest of the Territory, but I do feel that I have to answer to my constituents. Like I said, I never got an indication from my constituents that this is an issue. I am sure that not one of my constituents would ever feel that I took bread or butter off their table in order to give myself a pension. If anything, it was the reverse.
I recall in the past Assembly where we discussed this that I did not vote in favour of this thing willingly. I recall there was some unified decision that we would come in here as a unified vote, that everybody would show uniform. I did not see the sense of it at that time and I do not see the sense of it now.
Some people say some people never get a pension. Well, that is true, but they have to live in order to get to that age to reach that pension. That is one of the catches of the pension -- you have to earn it. You have to live long enough to enjoy that pension. It is not going to come all in one lump.
I believe you have the option of buying out the pension, but then you do not get a pension in the end. There is a catch to this thing. You have to live. You have to earn it. You have to reach that magic age.
I also remember that there are a lot of people in my riding, and probably in the whole Territories, who never paid into Canada pension because they never had a job all their life. They were trappers. Now, they are that age and they are receiving old-age pension, and they are happy about it, that somebody put in place a pension for them. Somebody thought of the future for them.
I tell you, when you get towards the sunset ages, the pension starts looking pretty good. I really wish all the Members in this House a long life and that they may enjoy the pension, if they ever vote in favour of it. Thank you.
-- Laughter
-- Applause