Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, will be supporting the motion. I have a fundamental problem with the approach that's being taken by this government and it's in regard to NAFTA, the free-trade agreement, and also the agreement on internal trade; especially on the grandfather provision that deal with the different policies and procedures that exist today. By changing our existing Business Incentive Policy, does that now exclude the rest of the policies that we have negotiated, such as sole-sourcing and other policies in this government? Because that's what I'm afraid of, that's exactly what this is doing. I feel that as a government we have to ensure we protect ourselves from the larger powers that be with regard to the business community across Canada and also North America. I think it's important as a government that we do not find ourselves making these changes and not really understanding what the political implications of these policy changes are.

Also, Mr. Speaker, I have concerns about the whole consultative process that was used. Especially under the Gwich'in comprehensive land claim agreement, it's clear that the Government of the Northwest Territories shall consult with the Gwich'in Tribal Council when developing modifications to its preferential contracting policies, procedures and approaches. Mr. Speaker, it's pretty clear there's a consultative process that has to be followed. Consultation means (a) the provision of the party to be consulted, the notice of the matter to be discussed, and a significant form of detail to allow the party to prepare its views on those matters; and, (b) provisions of this reasonable period of time in which the party will be consulted and can prepare its views on the matters and provisions and an opportunity to present such views to the party obligated to consult; and, (c) to ensure full and fair consideration to the parties obligated to consult on its views that it has presented.

Mr. Speaker, I know the consultation process that we use in the government is usually we fly in, you have a meeting. That is not consultation. Consultation as it's spelled out means you have to have meaningful involvement and notice has to be given, and you have to have the allowable time to present your views and opinions. For myself, I don't believe that has happened. Especially in our land claims agreements, as a government we have different obligations by way of revisions to the existing Wildlife Act which, to date, didn't go anywhere in the four years of this government. Again, it's another land claim obligation that has been defunct by this government. So I feel that we as a government have to go back and re-look at the implication of what this Cabinet decision is and not move on it at this time because the extent of this change is so significant and not knowing what the implications will be in the long term is too great a risk.

So I suggest to the government that you hold off on any changes and that you do a thorough review and ensure that the obligations you have under the comprehensive land claim agreements are looked at, and as government we do what's best for the Northwest Territories and realize what the implications are down the road. With that, Mr. Speaker, I will be supporting the motion.

---Applause