Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too want to thank the mover and the seconder for bringing this motion to the floor. It’s something which has been spoken a great deal about in the media, not just today but over the last number of months. It’s an issue that is very complex but it’s also a very long-standing issue, and I’m glad that we, as an Assembly, are looking to add our voice to the other calls that are out there for some action.

I am somewhat conflicted on the motion, on the contents of the motion. When Mr. Hawkins initially indicated he was going to bring this motion forward, I sent him a few remarks and explained to him that I am not totally convinced that an inquiry is what we

need. I do believe that a roundtable is certainly a good move. An inquiry will cost us up to millions of dollars I’m sure. Certainly previous inquiries that we’ve had on other subjects have cost the taxpayers millions and millions, and I think my rationale for not spending it on an inquiry is that if we took those millions and we put them into providing better homes, better services for all Aboriginals, but particularly Aboriginal women and girls, I think we would be providing a better solution to the problem.

That said, most of the motion talks about a roundtable, and I do believe that a roundtable is an excellent starting point. I think the money that will be invested in a roundtable will look at the root causes of this problem. This is not something that is going to be easily solved, and it’s going to take some very hard thinking, it’s going to take some people who are going to dedicate a great deal of time and energy and effort to this problem, and I think a roundtable is a very good first step.

With that, I am in support of the motion, and I encourage all my colleagues to do the same, to vote in favour.