Mahsi cho colleagues. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS generations of aboriginal children suffered physical and emotional abuse, leading to a loss of language, culture and parenting skills, while attending federally funded residential schools;

AND WHEREAS the impact of this abuse will continue to have an ill effect on the health and wellbeing of aboriginal people for generations to come;

AND WHEREAS while paying compensation to aboriginal people who attended residential school is appropriate, it does not address reconciliation;

AND WHEREAS a public apology by the Government of Canada would go a long way to addressing issues rising out of the abuse suffered while attending residential schools that many aboriginal people are still struggling with on a daily basis;

AND WHEREAS precedence exists in Canada vis-à-vis apologies made by the Federal Government to Japanese-Canadians wrongly interned during the Second World War and Chinese-Canadians who were subjected to the discriminatory immigration practice known as the head-tax;

AND WHEREAS other national governments, notably last week’s apology on behalf of the Government of Australia by their Prime Minister, the Honourable Kevin Rudd to the Aborigine people of Australia acknowledging the damage done by past government practices;

AND WHEREAS it would be desirous for the Government of Canada to offer such an apology to the aboriginal people of Canada who where subject to abuse within the residential school system, in order to further reconciliation and forgiveness efforts;

NOW THEREFORE I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that this Assembly urges the Prime Minister of Canada to make a public apology to the many aboriginal people that suffered abuse while attending federally funded residential schools;

AND FURTHER, that this Assembly strongly recommends the Premier of the Northwest Territories communicate this desire to the Prime Minister at the next opportunity.