Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to briefly provide my constituents, especially the elders, in terms of the context, in terms of explaining the process of fracking. So I just want to take a couple of moments just to explain to them who are out in the communities.

[English translation not provided.]

Fracking is generally the practice of putting water underneath the ground and ensuring that something comes up, and that’s normally the petroleum resources that are hard to get at. That’s the practice that we’re debating today.

I stand in support of this motion because, you know, we have done moratoriums in this House before. Recently we did a moratorium on evictions. Back in the ‘70s, I think everybody is familiar with the Berger Inquiry and the Berger Report and he put in place a moratorium back in 1977. So, moratoriums are not something new to us and, you know, the timing is perhaps something we need to reflect upon.

We’ve seen, over the past year, a warming trend where we’ve experienced extreme drought conditions. We have on record, forest fires that basically decimated the southern part of the NWT and we’re still experiencing drought-like conditions and it’s not only in the NWT, it’s all over North America. For that matter, around the world we’re seeing just how it is that global warming doesn’t stop and doesn’t have any time. It will continue to advance forward, and it is inevitable that more than likely it will impact two very critical things that I believe play a large part in this whole discussion. One of them is permafrost and the other one is water. You know, we’re seeing a warming trend.

I’d like to know, and this is where our counterparts in Yukon have taken their time, is to study what kinds of impacts global warming will have on permafrost and, at the same time, how hydraulic fracking will impact permafrost. We don’t really know, and we’re living in a part of the world where permafrost is very critical. At the same time, it almost acts like a sponge for us to retain water, and water at this point has become a very precious and critical resource and we can’t take it for granted. We’re seeing, perhaps, water in decline in all parts of the world and we need to ensure that we take measures to conserve this valuable product.

You know, I understand, in terms of oil and gas development, the need for jobs and businesses, and colleagues have very vividly painted the picture that there’s a slowdown in oil and gas activity all over the world because of the oil prices. Yes, I understand that, but at the same time I think what’s very important to remind ourselves is that we didn’t really allow the public, in terms of having their input of how they believe this government should be reflective of the government and be for the government. This is an opportunity where we, as elected leaders from our constituents, express to them, reassure them that yes, indeed, this motion reflects their sentiments and their concerns. So, for those reasons, it’s a simple task for me to stand in support of this motion and ensure it goes forward. Mahsi.