Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On January 8, 2013, the headline in the Yellowknifer said, “Deepak International to reopen dormant diamond factory plants – Minister David Ramsay heralds rebirth to the industry.”

So, first off I want to acknowledge the Minister’s expertise and gestation. However, noting that the incubation period of the diamond cutting company has taken over two years to show results, can the Minister tell the House what benefits did the government receive by striking a deal over two years ago and how long are we locked into this deal? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to talk about our population in the Northwest Territories. As we all know, as the population continues to decline it puts downward pressure on all of our industries and downward pressure means higher cost of living.

When I look around the Northwest Territories, I see almost every one of our communities losing people. It’s better described in such a painful way as our communities are bleeding their population, which is the lifeblood of those communities. People enrich the lives of everyone in all these communities, both large and small. Not just economically...

I think that pretty much covers the area I have of concern under general comments. Thank you.

Thank you. So I guess Hansard will ensure they spell it F-O-R.

What communities has the rentals office travelled to in the last fiscal year? Thank you.

I suppose this next question could be asked on the page, but I’ll just sort of speak generally to it, which is the rentals office. Not so much particularly a budget line item, so that’s why I’m going to ask it here. What type of community outreach does the rental office do outside of Yellowknife? Does it get out there, does it advocate, does it meet in community meetings to remind people what their rights are? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is it fair to say that the government hasn’t gained anything in this particular deal since it’s been struck? How can this government, if it’s not receiving any benefit for locking into a deal with the Polar Bear Diamond trademark with one company, is it fair to say that maybe we should be looking around to consider marketing this option to a company that wants to cut diamonds here in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

The Minister is quoted as saying, “This is a significant announcement to get the Polar Bear Diamond out there.”

What type of deal has this government struck by giving away the Polar Bear Diamond logo trademark to this company? How much did the government gain and how long are we locked into that specific deal? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although not a constituent of mine, I’d like to recognize one of the Pages who happens to be the daughter of a friend of mine, which is Davida Patterson, and her mother is the constituency assistant, I think, to Mrs. Groenewegen, Orlanda Patterson.

Thank you. One of the issues I’m hearing is there are various communities that don’t know enough about the rentals office, and I’ve tried to point them in the direction of this office through the Internet and tried to encourage them that they need to learn more about their rights. They’re not in my constituency of Yellowknife Centre, but trying to point them in that direction. In some cases they actually have problems with the Housing Corporation or, more specifically, the local LHO and through that they do not know their rights. So I would wonder if it would seem reasonable for the Department...