Thank you, Madam Chair. This has been a discussion that was had in the 15th and was had again in this Assembly. It’s a

good discussion and I don’t think it’s a matter of picking one group over another. I think the Electoral Boundaries Commission had done a fairly good job in going out there with the terms of reference respecting different areas and cultures of the Northwest Territories. That’s why we see such a discrepancy in the numbers today.

I, along with Mr. Blake and Mr. Moses, represent communities that have a fairly large Gwich’in/Inuvialuit population. Neither of us speaks either of the languages, but we manage to work with them well, thus we get elected. So I believe we speak for all the people.

If we had asked the Electoral Boundaries Commission to go out across the Northwest Territories and base their decisions just on numbers alone, then we’d see our territory carved up where maybe a community like Colville Lake will be part of the Mackenzie Delta. We’d have to move a lot of areas around with different groups, but we’d all be one people.

So I think they’ve done a really good job in trying to address some of our concerns. No disrespect to my two colleagues. I respect the fact that they are able to bring this motion forward. I respect both of them and the people they represent, but as in the 15th Assembly, I believe that 19 is a workable number. I think one of the Members said we have some of the smallest ridings in Canada. I truly believe that. I think that I’ve got 1,700. It might go to 1,900 if it changes. I should know every one of them by their first names. We are always fairly easy to get hold of.

I think the NWT is well represented in the Northwest Territories, not just based on numbers but based on the people that are in here. Needless to say, I will not be supporting the amendment to the motion. Thank you.