Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to join my colleagues in thanking the Members who have put together this motion and brought it forward. I would also like to thank Premier McLeod on the leadership role that he is taking across this nation.

I think the data and the trends are clear on this issue and, sadly, they have been for a long time. There can be little doubt, obviously, here in the Northwest Territories where it has been noted we know many of the women and girls or their families who have suffered from these tragic circumstances or are sometimes even related. This is sort of a no- brainer for us, we’re so close to it.

Fundamentally, I think we’re ashamed at the unresolved injustices, a lack of action, the lack of success and commitment when it’s plain as the egg on our face that we should have been on this a long time ago. That just makes me more appreciative of those, and I know we’ve got people in the House today, we’ve got organizations across the Northwest Territories and Native Women’s Associations across Canada who have been struggling to raise this issue, and I am very appreciative of the ears at the political level now, at all levels of government that are hearing these voices, and I appreciate the voices very much.

As has been said, I think things are overdue. It is time now, but please, let all this talk that we are seeking in this motion result in real on-the-ground action.