Thank you, Madam Chair. I’d like to thank the sponsor of the bill, Mr. Yakeleya. I’d like to thank the hospitality of the people of the Sahtu for sharing their time, their stories, their struggle and thoughts on Bill 24.

Furthermore, I wish to thank the Sahtu community leaders, band councils, chiefs and elders for your wisdom and guidance.

Bill 24 is simplistic in design, yet opens up the bigger issue of social responsibility when it comes to alcohol and its devastating effects. We heard from the sponsor of the bill that the Sahtu is unique, but does the Sahtu not suffer from the same issues as the rest of the NWT or northern Canada, for that matter, when it comes to alcohol abuse, bootlegging and social problems?

So aside from uniqueness and what was also tabled in committee’s report in the House, what else did we hear from the Sahtu people? We heard this would create too many demands from other NWT jurisdictions. So, does this bill allow for the call for similar mirror legislation, allowing plebiscite restrictions in places such as Inuvik, Hay River, Fort Simpson, Yellowknife and Fort Smith? In a non-legal sense, it does set up for some interesting precedent. Mathematically, this is almost impossible to duplicate.

We heard that the bill was unconstitutional for the committee to consider. So we asked ourselves, does the amendment offend the constitutional right to vote in the Sahtu? Does it discriminate on the basis of place of origin and what about the voting

rights of Norman Wells residents? Are their rights offended?

It is clear that Bill 24 affects the voting rights of any given Sahtu community in relation to liquor restrictions. So the question of dilution of voting rights, is this discrimination with respect to goods, services, accommodation or facilities? According to our legislative legal counsel, it is doubtful this would constitute discrimination pursuant to the Human Rights Act. To constitute such discrimination, Bill 24 would have to deny or discriminate a Sahtu community of such which is available to the public. Again, Bill 24 does not deny citizens of any Sahtu community to have a liquor store or to buy or sell alcohol.

So do we have a constitutional infringement with Bill 24? I can assure that committee had their constitutional Charter glasses on during the whole process of the bill. So no, I do not feel this bill touts constitutional infringement.

To recap Bill 24, are we setting up territorial precedent? Maybe, but as I said earlier, very difficult to reproduce mathematically. Are we creating inequalities under the Minister’s authority? Yes, but from a very narrow point of view. Are we creating inequalities across the NWT? No, as Charter acts and land claims all differ in design already. Finally, if we’re doing all three of these, is this good public policy moving forward? Well, I’m going to let the historians judge this question in the years to come.

So, committee, I ask you to put aside what has just been proven and battle tested from a constitutional sense so I can share my final thoughts.

Alcohol is the root of all evil and it is clear we need a rational, sobering perspective to all this. Admittedly, almost all of our issues of alcohol abuse boil down to personal responsibility and community support. In the end, this bill sets the premise of doing what is right for your neighbour, and it is clear from the people of the Sahtu they need our help.

Therefore, and in light of a regional town being restricted by a potential future plebiscite, this should not prohibit the people of Norman Wells or any township from helping their neighbours in their time of need. The sponsor of this private member’s bill, Mr. Yakeleya, has taken this serious issue head-on, with the potential of a political price to pay for his actions. I commend him and he undoubtedly has my respect moving forward.

Therefore, it is in the context of human compassion, legislative stewardship and the hope of a free vote by all Members here today that you will stand beside Mr. Yakeleya and the people of Sahtu and vote in favour of this bill. Mr. Yakeleya, you have my full support.