Mahsi, Madam Chair. I will be speaking in the Tlicho language. It’s unfortunate that we don’t have an interpreter here. In fair process, if I do go over 10 minutes, if you would allow me to wrap up my statement. I think it’s crucial. The Tlicho elders are listening to us and my leaders as well.
[English translation not provided.]
Madam Chair, I just want to reiterate some of the key messages. Again, it’s unfortunate that an interpreter is not here to capture everything that I said, all the important messages, especially to elders and community members.
The 19 seats that have been proposed here does not do anything for the Monfwi riding. With our
numbers, we’re 39.5 percent. That needs to be captured. The 25 percent margin that we have embarked on for a number of years, all the commissions that have come into play, they have always talked about 25 percent. Clearly, we are way beyond that, almost 40 percent, Madam Chair.
Due to that fact, this motion that’s before us is purely the status quo. We want 19 seats to continue as the status quo. Yes, we’re going to tweak it a bit so we can redraw the boundary lines in the Yellowknife area, but that doesn’t sit well with me as a Member for the Monfwi riding. It doesn’t sit well with my leadership either and that’s why they’re here today.
We talk about other regions, Sahtu, yes, I clearly understand and I support that, but today it’s the Monfwi riding with 39.5 percent. I will be supporting the Sahtu region. In the next eight years we’ll have to go through the same process again and they will clearly be above and beyond the 25 percent margin. Clearly, there will be growth as well. It’s not going to go down; it’s going to go up. Nunavut, less population and they added three more seats.
I’m just going to wrap it up. The two ridings, Tu Nedhe and Weledeh, two very distinctive groups, First Nations, amalgamating. We have to listen to the people. That’s why they elected us to sit here and to listen to them. We have to respect their input, their advice and their recommendations. Clearly, we are going against their wishes.
In my view, when we are going to be amalgamating two of the nations, different claimant groups, different languages, different ways of life, I believe we will be dividing those two nations, whether it be their language or way of life. We are forcing upon them to live together. We are forcing upon them to make it work. That’s the old regime, a federal government old regime system. I thought we walked away from that. As a GNWT we’re here to represent the people, not divide the people.
Clearly, the 19 motion that’s coming down does not sit well with my group, with my leadership, with my people. It goes against the wishes of my people and the wishes of other regions as well.
Just to wrap it up, clearly I cannot support this motion and it has to be on the record that we’re making a major decision here. Let’s do the right thing today. Let’s do the right thing this year in this Assembly for our Tlicho partners that are here watching us, to allow a seat for the Monfwi riding. That’s highlighted in one of the recommendations. The leaders from the Tlicho are here to witness a historical event today, listening carefully to each and every one of you. So let’s do the right thing and make a difference. Mahsi.