Mr. Speaker, when we stand in this House and raise issues and talk, what we say and how we say it has a tremendous impact not only in this House but outside of this House, in the communities, where many, many people watch avidly what happens in this House. It has a great impact.
Earlier in the week the comments in the statement by the Member from Yellowknife Centre reverberated through the community of Fort Smith and caused a tremendous furor that I’m still feeling the effects of today.
There are constructive ways to raise issues, and then there are destructive ways to raise issues. I would have to classify the Member’s statement made earlier in the week as more destructive in nature.
I do appreciate his comments in the House today as being much more constructive and helping to put oil on some of the troubled waters. But to be sure, the people of Fort Smith were offended. They do very highly treasure and value the college and the students who come to the community.
The college is celebrating its 39th anniversary this
year. In those 39 years there has been a presence in Fort Smith. At the start of this college, it used to be called Adult Vocational Training. Thousands of students have gone through there.
On this side of the House, I look around. There are graduates in this House that have gone to the college, myself included, when I was doing my apprenticeship training.
Mr. Speaker, this is an issue of great importance to my community that I want to raise in this House. As I said earlier in the week, I have to be able to speak for the people that I represent. I have to be able to speak for the people of the college.
And while we want to raise issues, we have to keep in mind we have to get all the facts and we have to get all the details. We have to look at all the numbers, including all the people who have gone through the college.
Harkening back to my younger days, I know that if you go to a strange community, and if you go out and engage in extracurricular activities…. It doesn’t matter if it’s Fort Smith, Hay River, Inuvik, Yellowknife. If you engage in extracurricular activities and alcohol is involved and you’re looking the wrong way at the wrong person, or asking the wrong person to dance….
Mr.
Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to
conclude my statement.
Unanimous consent granted.