Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to support this motion. I think that the time is critical, as Mr. Handley indicated between six and 12 months. I think it is really critical now, as Mr. Handley and also his Cabinet has heard from all of us on this side here, in terms of coming to an agreement-in-principle with the Government of Canada working closely with our aboriginal governments as we are the key ingredients to the key to what type of devolution and resource revenue sharing we are going to have in the Northwest Territories. That is regardless of a lot escaped. There is a lot of land. I think that we, as northerners, set aside our differences and look at more of our similarities. It is well spoken by this side that we have a lot of similarities in the small communities. We need to put a focus on what is good for all northern people, what is good for our communities in the settled and unsettled areas. We need to look at the basic ingredients that keep us together. We need some good housing, good sheltering. We need some food on our table that we can afford. We need some good water. We need to have ownership of the land. We need these basic necessities to live up here. I think it is high time. It is a critical time. It is a time that all northern people come together and, as I said in my statement prior, Mr. Speaker, that all northern people come together for survival of the Northwest Territories, of the survival of a nation of people.
We are not going anywhere, Mr. Speaker. Our people will live here. They are going to die here. There are lots of good northerners who came from the South who are making the Northwest Territories their home now. There are still some that migrate back to the southern area. That is okay. The real people that stay in the Northwest Territories have the real benefits. It is at our cost that, if we don't get this deal done, we are the losers in this one here.
So I say to this motion that the government seriously consider this motion and look at ways to get a deal done that is going to make all people of the Northwest Territories very proud that we, as leaders, this is our role. They put us out in the front. This is what we have to do. Our people are waiting for us. The elders are waiting for us in terms of the comforts of living in the small communities. The young people are going to wait for us and say what type of deal have you given to us that we can live by?
We have gone in areas where our own communities, the aboriginal governments, have settled a land claim for the people and for the generation. We have gone to great discussions in terms of putting together a resource revenue deal, a devolution deal for all people of the Northwest Territories. We have to work together. We still drink the same water. We still breathe the same air.
Under our leadership and, of course, by the elders, Mr. Speaker, our elders are always saying we have to work together. That is going to be our greatest challenge, is to put our differences aside. Some of us are really going to have to bite our tongue on some issues here, but we have to think about the ones that are going to come before us, the ones who came before us and the ones who are going to come after us in terms of what is our contribution, our legacy to put together a northern strong unique style of leadership that will just amaze Ottawa. It will blow them right out of the water because we come together as one.
We are unique. We are special. I don't see Ottawa coming up here and staying here. They make a quick trip up here, they make a quick announcement and they go back.
So I say, Mr. Speaker, in closing, that we are at a critical time in history of the Northwest Territories. I look forward to working with people of the Northwest Territories on this motion here with all Members. I hope that we do come out with a strong vision that we could all be proud of and have a goal, a good sense of, yes, this is what the people of the North want. This is where we are going. Really think about the ones who have done this work prior to us even being born. The elders have really gave thought to what the North can provide and give to the people of the rest of Canada. So I am going to say that I am glad this motion came to the floor to give us some direction to the leadership and to all leadership in the Northwest Territories to look at this motion to consider the possibilities that we could have if we put our minds and hearts together, Mr. Speaker, with one voice. Give one voice that would bring a lot of good benefits to the people in our communities. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause