Mr. Speaker, I appreciate your guidance. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to conclude by saying that I don't think by defeating this motion we will solve anything. I think we will accomplish an awful lot by approving second reading, getting it to where the Standing Committee on Legislation can look at it, getting it to where the public can give us some more input when we go back to our respective constituencies, as my colleague from Amittuq quite correctly pointed out.

I am supporting the motion, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Oh, I love that. I love it. That is true consensus, you see that we do agree.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, will support the bill. I want to see this, as my colleague for Amittuq has quite correctly pointed out, debated a little bit further, and I am certainly aware that it will be an election issue.

In my opinion, when it comes to the principle of the bill, what we are doing is we are evolving. We are evolving from one form of government to another form. The ultimate form of government, of course, would be political parties, which none of us want to see here at this point in time. It has been brought up in many elections in the past and will continue to be debated in elections in the future, I am sure.

Many of us have spoken about the unique form of government that we have here in the territories, and we boast about it when we travel internationally. People do look at us with envy that we can manage the way we have. But that type of relationship, Mr. Speaker, that we have so much enjoyed, has been eroded in the past four years. It was not consensus any more; it was quasi-party politics, without names. This, in my opinion and in the opinions of many people that I represent, is a good, positive steps towards rectifying a situation that I guess could, if taken to its ultimate, get out of hand, and we will end up with what we don't want: party politics.

Here's a relief valve, if you wish, that will meet our needs in this unique Legislature and for the next government. Then, we can go back to consensus government at a later time, if we choose and if the people direct us, or we can make a step forward into party politics if that is what the people direct us to do and that is what this House does at the end of the next four years.

I think that we do need to debate this a little bit more to work out some of the things that are perhaps frightening to us, like my colleague from Yellowknife Centre has said. We see a wolf behind every bush on some of the issues that would scare us. How are we going to do these things? How are we going to accommodate the selection of a Premier? How are we going to ensure that there is a balance between the respective groups in the territories, the Dene, the Metis, the non-aboriginal, the Inuit? How are we going to ensure that is happening? How are we going to ensure that there is a balanced representation on Cabinet of those people by population, those types of things; where one represents 25 per cent of the population of the territories, one should have 25 per cent of the say.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a question I would like to direct to the Minister of Economic Development, Tourism and Parks. It concerns the services to the campgrounds and parks in the territories. Some of my constituents visited some parks last weekend and they were concerned that where there used to be potable water available, there was no water. I would like to ask the Minister whether cost-saving initiatives have created a situation where water is no longer going to be provided at these campgrounds. I think it's important to the visiting public to know this because they're getting water from the lake. I would like to ask the Minister whether water services to these parks have been discontinued.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning. Mr. Speaker, it was disappointing, to say the least, when members of the European commission adopted such a rigorous stance concerning the importation of Canadian furs. While I can't say I am surprised at their refusal to consider our views, I am sorry that they appear to be influenced by poorly informed, emotionally-based groups when making trade decisions. Unfortunately, this has led to the commission taking a judgemental stand on the issue, rather than forming an opinion based on objectivity and factual data. It is frustrating that despite genuine efforts by our government representatives to reach a compromise and negotiate in good faith, the other parties appear to be using delay tactics.

In the meantime, our traditional fur industry and the livelihood of some of our people here are threatened by well-funded animal rights' groups who are largely ignorant of the real facts. I take issue, Mr. Speaker, with those who feel they have the right to dictate what constitutes cruelty and kindness for other people. This is a very complex subject that differs with particular circumstances and the cultural values of societies.

If we reacted in the same spirit, Mr. Speaker, it would be tantamount to our North American free-trade union banning trade with Spain until the end of their long tradition of bullfighting, or we could refuse to trade with Britain unless fox hunting was banned and abolished, and insist that France adopt a kinder method of transporting their calves and feeding of their poultry. Obviously this type of behaviour, especially at an international trade level, would be uncharacteristic of people from the Northwest Territories.

At the same time, however, representatives of different nations have to try to establish a common ground. Put simply, that is why our government held the recent meetings with members of the European commission.

I would like to conclude by congratulating the Honourable Silas Arngna'naaq, Mr. Lewis and other government officials, for representing the Northwest Territories in a gracious manner with attitudes that demonstrated our sense of fairness and our respect for the views of others. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I can't recall whether this issue was raised specifically to that but I do recollect that, in general terms, people did talk about the rights or the privileges of the use of alcohol. It certainly must be regarded as a privilege because in many cases there are certain restrictions, licences and permits and stuff that are required to allow people to consume alcoholic substances.

I, again, don't recall anybody raising that as a specific issue that we could have sunk our teeth into and it became something that we entered into our report. What I do recollect, and other Members could assist me if they choose, is that it was regarded, in general terms, Mr. Chairman, that the consumption of alcohol was not a right but that it was a privilege. I think that's the way it was seen.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and have Committee Report 11-12(7) of the Standing Committee on Legislation moved into committee of the whole for today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Legislation. Therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Natilikmiot, that the report of the Standing Committee on Legislation on the review of Bill 25, Education Act, be received by the Assembly and moved into committee of the whole.

Mr. Speaker, I believe it's the chairman's prerogative to say thank you to committee Members for their diligence and hard work in helping to get the act to this point. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause