Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We seem to have lost all our audience when it's my turn to speak. Mr. Chairman, I want to start off by commending the team that worked on this document, especially the negotiators. I know it's a tough job, a very lengthy process, and having this document signed this summer was really a huge milestone, a real feather in the cap. I also wanted to commend the Minister on the work that he's done, and also for having the courage to bring this forward, knowing full well that we had a real short window of opportunity to pass this document, or to even review this document.
I didn't expect to see this document in front of us within the life of what we had left in our term. We had I think all understood that the Tlicho agreement, the Tlicho legislation would come to the Members of the 15th Assembly because of the late signing. So it was a little bit of a surprise. However, I certainly encouraged the Minister to bring it forward. I voted in favour of this legislation in first and second reading, because I believe that we have to give the benefit of the doubt and try our best effort to accommodate this legislation. So that's why I voted to support the principle in first and second reading.
I was fully expecting us to take this on the road, given the short time frame, maybe even to a couple of communities. Unfortunately, it didn't look like it was possible to do public hearings. I don't know if there was a lack of political will or a lot of people watching the election clock that's ticking already. However, I was happy that we could at least agree and not let this whole legislation die and be in a process that was not going to go the last few steps. So I really want to also commend the Member for North Slave for taking it to this committee, Committee of the Whole.
I think whenever we have to fast track or try to push documents through, we're really in a pinch, especially when it comes to aboriginal issues. We've heard a couple of Members say today that we, as a territorial government, are always viewed as a stumbling block. I knew and I still feel had we delayed discussion on this legislation, it certainly would have been viewed as a stumbling block. So we were in a position that we were going to be criticized by either. By not proceeding, we would have, I understand, delayed the Tlicho legislation probably until sometime next spring. In order for us to proceed, we have to go this route. So going to Committee of the Whole is the only avenue we have at this time.
There is some objection that we have to take very seriously. We've had a lot of correspondence from the North Slave Metis Alliance; there are a lot of questions being raised. We also have a document that we just got today from the Fort Providence community council. I don't believe there's a campaign against this legislation, but I believe there are a lot of questions that they are going to be asked. Given the time we have left in this House today, I don't think we will have enough time to ask the questions today, so I am sure it's going to be a two-day process. Hopefully we will be able to conclude this discussion tomorrow.
I understand though that this is the first of three bills. A lot of things have changed, even from the time this document was initialled. I had the privilege of attending the signing in Fort Rae and since that time we've had some other aboriginal groups, some legal cases settled. So it's an ever-evolving environment that we live in and I certainly don't want to see something held up as we try to get a legal opinion every step, but there has to be answers of the questions that are being posed.
I have a lot of questions I would like to ask the Minister when the time is appropriate. I have to have the comfort that this legislation will accommodate all recent and future changes and what affect it will have on other aboriginal groups. I am from the Deh Cho. I represent the Deh Cho. Our borders are parallel. We've had discussions with the Dogrib and Tlicho over the last few years. I have to have the assurance and give this bill due diligence. Since this is going to be our only avenue, I will have a lot of questions. I am hoping the Minister has really been studying the document because I am sure my vote is going to be based on his answers. Thank you.