Mr. Speaker, I would like to use this opportunity to point out what I believe is a serious fault in our system. While you review the committee events of last evening perhaps a point to keep in mind is the people of Yukon chose the hon. member for Yukon to represent them as their member of Parliament, knowing full well she was also a member of the New Democratic Party.
The issue before the aboriginal affairs committee last night was dealing exclusively with that territory, Indian land claims and Indian self-government in the Yukon territory. Being the only member from that territory it seems not unreasonable that she would want to play an advisory role, a serious role, in an issue that dealt explicitly and exclusively with her constituents.
Technically my hon. friend may be correct that it reveals some of the inappropriateness of some of our standing orders, particularly as they refer to committee and the role of so-called independent members. For my friend-and I respect the technical case that he is making-to suggest for a moment that the sole representative for the Yukon territory not be allowed to participate in critical legislation regarding her constituents surely must point out a major flaw in our system.