Thank you, Madam Chair. Clearly, in terms of the guidelines that were presented to the commission, this is the worst of the three scenarios they presented. It does not resolve the issues of under- and overrepresentation. As well, the issues of culture and language remain as we’ve heard for at least two groups.
I would particularly like to say for Monfwi this is unfair and perpetuates an unfairness that’s been on record for some time now. This is our opportunity to correct that, I would say. So I don’t think we should be holding our head up much if we do pass this motion.
I’d also like to say that we do need to have the discussion about how much government we need and what it would require and then a discussion on the model of the government that would be appropriate for that number of MLAs. Update that discussion as needed, but have that discussion, put it on record and see if we can’t pull together some momentum towards working towards that model. If it was a smaller number of MLAs, I would be fine with that.
As we’ve heard, this scenario bumps up against the 25 percent rule, not only for Monfwi but I’d say again for the Inuvik ridings, Mackenzie Delta, with overrepresentation, Deh Cho and so on. For Yellowknife, as well, I just did calculations here and for the formerly Weledeh, so it would be NWT two, 85 people would put us over the 25 percent limit. Now, we know that is happening as we speak. People are moving into the Weledeh riding. For Yellowknife Centre, NWT three, it would be 28 people. Frame Lake would be 122 people and that starts to get into the sort of thing we are looking for. I’m pleased to observe that the scenario for 21 does offer that sort of cushion, so that we can expect the degree of voter parity we would put in place with the option of 21 would actually last for some period of time.
I think cost, again, has been well addressed. The MLAs do contribute. Democracy does have a cost and is well worth the investment. I would say some numbers were thrown on the table that are pretty high from my understanding for what two MLAs, as proposed in 21, would cost. We know government makes a lot of, I would say, almost frivolous decisions on amounts of money that are substantially greater than that and perhaps it would
motivate us to tune up our decision-making a bit on some of those costly items.
I would say Weledeh riding, speaking for my current riding, but looking into the future, names are important. I think what’s reflected in the Weledeh riding is even the name indicates the pride that Yellowknifers have in aligning themselves with a couple of small Aboriginal communities, Yellowknives Dene First Nations communities, we regard as part of ourselves. We are very proud of that affiliation. I would say that is from something like 75 years now there’s a record of affiliation of those communities with residents of Yellowknife which were really part and parcel in the early days, lifestyles were so similar in many ways, certainly adjacent, right on the lake, where most of the Weledeh riding is centred and so on. I wanted to make mention this is a big departure against the wishes of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.
I’d say really the scenario for 19 is close to the status quo. It certainly is in terms of numbers, it certainly is in terms of numbers of MLAs, but it’s worse because it fails to attempt to meet the need that 21 addresses, voter parity and a better representation of the language and culture. Again, not nearly as deserving of our support as the scenario with 21 seats.
Really the only thing I’ve heard against the 21 seats is the cost business and I think that’s been so well addressed and could be further addressed, as I mentioned in my opening remarks just now, through more discussion, more work on behalf of this bunch of MLAs to have a discussion on the form and size of government we want and start moving towards that in a comprehensive way.
So I will be voting against this motion. I encourage my colleagues to also consider that, given that it’s the worst of the three options that we see at the top of page 37 dealing with this. I will conclude my remarks with that, Madam Chair. Thank you.