Mahsi, Madam Chair. This particular motion that’s before us has been debated for a number of years now.

[Translation] This bill is very important and it’s been very, very… We’ve been talking about it since 2005 until now, and especially since I’ve been elected we’ve been in discussions about it twice. We also wanted an extra MLA for the Tlicho region. In 2013 they wanted 19, 20 and 21. They also went to Rae region to ask the people and a lot of people attended the meeting at that time. So the Tlicho citizens want an extra MLA in their region and the elders have also requested that. In the Tlicho region we have approximately 3,000 people and we

have about 35 percent. So, if you look at the numbers, it is right that we have an extra chair. We also know that Inuvik was like that, so they have received an extra and we have exceeded the population in order to have an extra seat. In our region, in the Tlicho region, we already have our own self-government, since 2005. When the commission travelled to the community all the people have talked about those issues that they were concerned about, especially about the population within the Tlicho region.

Tu Nedhe also spoke about that themselves. They have made it into one region, one electoral boundary and they wanted 19, it would have been 19 seats, but it seems that we’re not in agreement. We don’t live in the same way in the communities, so we ask them what they would want to do with it. I don’t agree with the decision that was made.

I want to also repeat this in English, but I want to speak in my own language for my own citizens. I talked about it in the Tlicho region already. I know that this has to be portrayed in my language because a lot of elders don’t speak English, but I know that a lot of elders have supported me, and because of their wishes I am speaking on behalf of them. They want an extra, so they want two MLAs; they want two chairs. That’s what we wish for in our region. [Translation ends]

So, to elaborate further in another language, since I’ve been elected to this Assembly, back in 2005, this is the second go around for the NWT Electoral Boundaries Commission process. The last one was in the 15th Assembly. In 2005 our Tlicho population

was well beyond the 25 percent margin, hovering over 29 percent. At that time I also argued for an additional seat for the Monfwi riding. Today there is even more reason for this additional seat. The numbers speak for themselves.

Madam Chair, the 2013 commission final report stated that we should avoid a status quo position, present scenarios, 18, 19 and 21 seats. The commission held public engagement. The highest turnout for public consultation was in Behchoko from across the Northwest Territories. That alone should stand a point for requiring an additional seat for the Tlicho region. The public has spoken. For the last several Assemblies, the GNWT, Tlicho Government, elders, community members, have stressed the need for an additional seat in this Legislative Assembly. The current population in the four Tlicho communities is 3,183 and still growing. That is 39.5 percent, way beyond the 25 percent standard margin for an additional seat requirement. It’s time that we get the additional seat that we deserve. The commission did its report strictly on numbers. Back in the 15th Assembly we were at 29

percent. Now we’re at 39.5 percent plus. The next go around with the commission in the 19th Assembly, if we do come back, it will be 50 percent plus margin, double what’s required.

If you compare these numbers with two other communities, such as Hay River and Inuvik when they went through the process, which were granted an additional seat based on their 25 percent margin – the Monfwi population today is 3,183; Inuvik’s population is 3,321; a difference of only 138 today – it only makes sense that the Monfwi region be granted the same consideration as Inuvik; that is an additional seat.

We need equal representation throughout the Northwest Territories. The Tlicho region regional representation is almost four times compared to the smallest region, and that also needs to be taken into consideration. The Tlicho riding is very unique compared to other jurisdictions in the Northwest Territories.

As I stated in the Tlicho language, we have Tlicho land claims and self-government, the first of its kind in the North. Part of the commission’s consideration was to highlight lands, resources and self-government agreement, including language and culture preservation, transportation- communication within different areas. All of these elements have to be taken into consideration. We have to keep in mind that we are far beyond the 25 percent set margin; in fact, 14.5 percent plus and growing.

All four Tlicho communities are asking for this additional seat due to our ever increasing population in our region. There may be 3,183 in the Tlicho population today, but we also represent Tlicho populations living outside the Monfwi riding. Tlicho constituents living in Yellowknife feel comfortable accessing myself as Monfwi MLA because I speak their language and they feel comfortable speaking their language to me.

The opportunity now is to accept the 21 seats for our 18th Assembly coming. It will mean an

additional seat for the Tlicho region and, yes, another seat for the Yellowknife riding, just the way it has been in the past, which in turn will balance the remaining numbers in the Northwest Territories.

At the same time, Madam Chair, the Tu Nedhe riding should stay the same representing Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e. I do not support amalgamating Tu Nedhe with YK Dene. There are various reasons for it: different language groups, different claimant groups, which the 19 seat status quo would do. We heard it loud and clear from the general public: this will divide the nation, the language, cultural way of life. We cannot and should not force this on to them. They’re two different, distinct nations. Forcing on to them is the old system of doing business and it would simply not work.

The electoral boundary was debated in the 15th Assembly. Now we’re the 17th Assembly today with

the Tlicho margin at 39.5 percent above and beyond the 25 percent. We need to move forward and grant the additional seat in my riding. I certainly hope that we don’t have to come back to the same debate in the 19th Assembly for the Tlicho region’s

additional seat, at which time we will be a 50 percent plus margin, double the standard rate. My recommendation is that we have two additional seats added, one for the Tlicho and one for Yellowknife and that Tu Nedhe remains as is. I think the numbers speak for themselves. Mahsi.