Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Often when we contemplate a decision or an issue, it’s just perhaps instinct that we find ourselves rationalizing. We say cost is a factor or else perhaps we’ve been through this process before and we don’t need to reinvent the wheel. At the same time, there is a level of denial in terms of the hard core facts that

we have Aboriginal women that have been murdered, at the same time, missing.

With that in mind, the NWT has a record of very stellar leadership and being at the national forefront whether it’s advocating for First Nations in terms of housing initiatives. At the same time, recently the biggest achievement that the NWT has achieved is through devolution, and we play a very prominent role. Perhaps this is the time to put our leadership on the table and say we need to step up on this matter and do something. I think today is the time.

Personally, I know of some people that are missing in my home community. There was a local elder that wandered off in the bush and was never found again. There is another young woman that I know of in our community who has been missing for some time. At the same time, we have another person that I know of who has never been found. If people go missing, there’s no closure. You don’t know whether they’re going to come back one day, and this leaves the family in a very grievous state. You know, they’ll wonder. If you can imagine that this circumstance is right across Canada, and we need to do something about that.

This motion calls for a national roundtable. Yes, we’ve seen some initiatives recently. What comes to my mind is the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. It was a very extensive study in terms of looking at the history of First Nations in terms of their role within Canada, with how they’re related with the federal government, the obligations of treaties, promises that were made when Canada became a country and even before that time. We’ve also seen recently that Truth and Reconciliation Commission that travelled across Canada looking at the residential school experience.

We have initiatives that have gone on before, but what’s important to note is that we need to do something about this, and I believe today is the time to step up and say, yes, we’re going to act upon this and move forward. I will be supporting this motion.