Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate my colleagues bringing this motion forward and I will be speaking in support of the motion. Unfortunately, the option for 19 does not resolve the issues that I think we’re trying to deal with regarding the redefinition of boundaries.

Certainly, Monfwi is been left grossly under-represented and that gets converted to overrepresented, which is probably not appropriate for a few years. It is one of our fastest growing ridings and obviously they have been in an under-represented state for some time now.

I would say the same about my riding, Madam Chair. Weledeh, as everybody knows, is the largest

riding currently, 42 percent greater than the average. It is a very large riding and definitely I recognize that some changes are needed to provide people with fairer representation. They’ve been grossly under-represented. Now again, unfortunately, even with the current 19 redefinitions, Weledeh is already, since the Boundaries Commission came out and we made our recommendations, over the 25 percent guideline.

My point is that the issue is not being resolved with a little bit of dallying such as 19 representatives. This motion, in contrast, tries to take a firmer hand and do things which will actually last a little bit longer than a month, 28 people for the Weledeh riding. I think it’s the same under the redefined Kam Lake situation. I suspect they will very quickly be over the 25 percent guideline.

That is no kind of resolution to the issues that I think we are trying to fix, whereas this motion does make some solid strides. You can look, for example, at the number of districts or ridings that are over and under 25 percent. It drops to four according to the paper, estimates for the option being recommended in this motion, as opposed to seven in the 19. It hardly resolves any of the issues of under and overrepresentation at all. Again, I appreciate that my colleagues are attempting to deal with the real issues here.

Certainly, when we look at a more democratic or political stance, the people of Weledeh did not want the people of Ndilo and Detah to leave the Yellowknife riding umbrella in which they currently fit. There’s a strong relationship between Ndilo, Detah and Yellowknife. Their MLA, that would be me, does not want that to happen. I look at Tu Nedhe where they would be shifted too. People of Tu Nedhe are not excited about that idea. I look at the representative, Mr. Beaulieu, for that riding. He, again, opposes this. I say to the House, how is this any kind of a justice or resolution to the issues?

Finally, and equally vital, I would say, is the problem of the seven Yellowknife ridings which, as I said, some of them already are under-represented again even should these boundaries be in place today. That means by the time this all happens, many of them, perhaps most, will likely be over the 25 percent guideline unless people will be grossly under-represented as in Monfwi currently. Again, a gross injustice in a democratic system.

If you look at the numbers, Yellowknife currently is under-represented by two Members. That is what it would take to really provide any kind of a cushion within the 25 percent guidelines that would last more than a few weeks. All Yellowknife ridings are essentially bumping up against the 25 percent. Again, I don’t think people are pushing for two people for Yellowknife, but obviously to delay this longer and longer, there needs to be some recognition. I think I see the way Yellowknife

Members were here. Generally, they are strong at seeking solutions and political support that will benefit all residents of the Northwest Territories. I think Yellowknife representatives typically recognize that extra support is required, deserved and to be provided. I think the information shows that that’s provided by the Yellowknife MLAs for the small communities.

Yellowknife’s biggest growth factor is in fact Aboriginal residents moving here from other parts of the Northwest Territories. That’s the biggest source of growth for the City of Yellowknife. I think it’s something that theoretically could be supported by everybody, recognizing that their residents need fair representation, as well, even when they move into the centre of Yellowknife. Again, there are many reasons. I think Mr. Beaulieu and Mr. Lafferty provided other reasons as well. My main concern is that right now there really is gross under-representation in some ridings. It’s being perpetuated in Yellowknife. It even extends into the 21 Member option but less so, and gives a bit of a buffer for time, so there are plenty of reasons to support this motion and I will be supporting it and hoping that we can, again, respond to the concerns of the people in Ndilo/Detah as well as the Tu Nedhe riding and be fair to all, and certainly to Monfwi which is very under-represented right now. I think that wraps it up for me, Madam Chair. Thank you.