Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am just going to read a summary from the Dehcho First Nation, which is five of the communities that I represent. It is summarizing. This was a letter sent to Minister McLeod on January 18, 2019.

"DFN does not support the introduction of the draft Forest Act bill as provided to us on December 20, 2018. The draft legislation as discussed with the technical working group meeting on January 9, 2018, is not consistent with the provisions of the Dehcho IMA, and does not address DFN's substantive concerns about the potential adverse impact of this legislation on Dehcho rights.

"There was limited opportunity for DFN and ENR to engage in any meaningful dialogue to resolve the outstanding policy issues raised in the technical working groups prior to May 2018. There was also no opportunity legislative drafting prior to receiving the December 7, 2018, draft number 8 of the bill on December 20, 2018, during the Dehcho First Nation office holiday closure.

"Legislation that is inconsistent with the Dehcho IMA, does not afford protections for the exercise of Dehcho rights, and does not even meet the general standards for consultation and accommodation between the GNWT and Indigenous governments set out in the Wildlife Act and other pending ENR legislation. Such fundamental omissions are not acceptable."

Mr. Speaker, it has been quite an interesting opportunity to discuss this legislation with the residents of the riding I represent. I have had more calls about this than the cannabis bill, which is quite interesting to see. It was the technical group that was starting to work on it. Then all of a sudden, it didn't go there. We talk about the opportunity to fix this.

The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh said it took 10 years to get the Wildlife Act done right. That is what we should be doing. We should be getting this act done right.

Also, when this bill goes to committee, the scope is limited, what is able to be changed. What needs to be done? I was hoping that the government would be willing to take this act back, fix it up, consult with the Indigenous groups who are the landowners. We are guests in here. We need to understand that, and we need to respect them. This act does not respect them as we move forward.

I have heard the opportunity to make changes. Changes need to be made prior to this going out with committee. We are also being pushed to get it done in the 120 days. We are not giving enough time for committee to do the work. We need to do this right. This is going to be a legacy for not just us but our grandchildren and their grandchildren. That is what needs to be understood.

The government needs to work with us. I have been in some of the community meetings, and I have listened to them. I have listened to both sides. I thought we were moving forward. I thought there was some good work. This technical working group was a very positive step by this government. Somehow, it changed somewhere along the line, and then they were no longer co-drafting this document.

I would hope the Minister and the department would say, "Okay. We will withdraw it, and we will work with the committee to get this done right." I say, "the committee," but also the Indigenous groups. That is who we need to be working with on this.

I represent six communities in Nahendeh, and they all have said, "This act is not good. It needs to be fixed." They appreciated the consultation from the government at the beginning, but it seems to have stopped. That is why they are saying, "Don't vote for this," so I will not be able to vote for this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.