Robert Hawkins

Thank you. Taking off on one of the questions my good colleague from Boot Lake had said, maybe I could clarify, how much oil and gas is being developed in the North Slave region at this particular time?

Mr. Speaker, again, speaking on the theme of being not confident to do change, Mr. Speaker, I believe in the department, Mr. Speaker. I know they have the skills, Mr. Speaker. And I hope the Minister wasn't suggesting she's going to hire more ADMs, DMs, and who knows what else.

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister have the confidence that I'm giving her -- would she take the leadership I'm encouraging her to take to hire someone from an auditor general point of view to do value for money audit on the work we do there in the department because of the inefficiencies of how the programs are currently...

Not intending to hold you to the exact number unless of course you have it, so how many people would that represent? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. With the budget in the range of $650 million with hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of employees on the books both funded, unfunded, etcetera, Mr. Speaker, what does the department have in terms of jobs specifically that are targeted to analyze spending of the department in the context of an efficiency expert? Thank you.

And how many people support that office in terms of employment or PYs? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd say thanks for the answer, but I'm not really sure -- I appreciate the answer, but it doesn't really focus on what the issue is, is what needs to change in order to reestablish the position there. All of that work could be done there. So is there something holding back from being able to do that work in Inuvik? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, again, I want to reaffirm that the merits and principles are not the issue of the shelter, so I want to make sure we never go on a tangent in the wrong direction on that.

Mr. Speaker, the last shelter that was downtown had impacts. Security cameras to be put on buildings. Homes were threatened. People were doing people things in yards -- I'll leave it at that, I won't use that language. But that said, Mr. Speaker, it impacted neighbourhoods and changed neighbourhoods specifically. What is the Minister doing to meet the needs of the community that this giant shelter...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Firstly, and I want to make it absolutely clear, there is shelter support downtown whereas in people don't mind having the day shelter on its way. Mr. Speaker, it's a project the community does acknowledge and certainly embraces in its own way. Mr. Speaker, however, the issue has come down to, and continues to be, the size of the shelter. Are we building a premium shelter, the shelter to solve all problems? It's not just big, it's bloated. It's going to solve every problem in the North. That's the fear of the community, Mr. Speaker.

Again, I want to make it absolutely...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support the Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh bringing this motion. I think it's a wise -- it's a very targeted motion, which is in other words of saying here's a problem and here's a straightforward solution, and I recognize his work and advocacy on this issue, and I think the community -- his communities are lucky to have him. I also want to thank the Member for Deh Cho for speaking passionately about this issue. I mean, without her support on this, you know, I mean, it's nice to see great support, you know, to get on this particular topic...

Thank you, and I appreciate that. And the Minister didn't say away as in, hey, I'm trying to school you. The Premier -- I appreciate you pointing it out that, yes, it does involve the Minister. So I'm saying I recognize and appreciate her tone on the response. That said, though, she is in charge of FMB which is the overarching financial policies. That's why I directed the question directly to her.

Mr. Speaker, again, perhaps maybe I can approach it this way: NGOs don't feel they're being recognized in this budget, and they feel that they're being overlooked. And I guess my question comes down...