Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to reiterate some of the comments my colleagues were speaking about in regard to Mr. Zoe's actions, and the fact that he did accept the criticism from his peers in the taking away of his portfolios. I think that stands in itself that's enough to discredit Mr. Zoe of what he has done or what he may have not done. I think with his public apology and his promise for restitution and seeking his own healing, that Mr. Zoe is going in the right direction. I have to agree with Mr. McLeod's comments that the
motion is a non-confidence motion, which I myself have not lost in Mr. Zoe yet. I realize that it is our civic duty, it does require Members to be diligent and responsive to public scrutiny or public opinion. I think Mr. Zoe has taken this task very seriously and honestly, and tackled it head on with his responsiveness to all the scrutiny that has been coming about each day. I believe that we all have to uphold zero tolerance with respect to many issues in regard to being a Member in the actions and the opinions that we make in public. I also believe that we should take zero tolerance with regard to any unsubstantiated comments or hearsay as truth as Members, also.
Because I don't support the motion does not mean that I condone Mr. Zoe's actions or comments in the fact that if he violated another person or not, but just to say that as an aboriginal northerner I believe that it is my duty to say that we are faced with the racist comments, actions and just racism in general every day as aboriginal northerners, and I don't think that any of them should be tolerated no matter who these racist connotations are directed towards or to be taken lightly by any Member of the Legislative Assembly. But I have to say that knowing Mr. Zoe for a number of years, that I also think that he has done an exceptional job as a Minister of the Legislative Assembly, and a Member of the Executive Council to date. One such incident shouldn't wholly discredit and make Mr. Zoe feel probably very low and very shamed about what he did. I think that would be punishment enough, Mr. Speaker, and for that matter I am not in support of this motion. Thank you.