Robert Hawkins

I have to say I’m kind of disappointed by that last answer by the Finance Minister, because, quite frankly, the lenders cutting off funding to the territorial government through the Deh Cho Bridge have nothing to do with the ongoing process. That process has been done. That bridge has been burnt. It’s over. So now is our chance to look at the situation.

There must have been significant correspondence from the lender. I’m asking the Finance Minister would he be willing to provide the correspondence between the Department of Finance and the lenders to Members of this side of the House as well as...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to rise today to talk about a very important subject that I’m very passionate about as well as the realignment of Highway No. 4, but I’ve always been passionate about first aid and the training that we can ensure others can have.

I’ve got a long history of being a First Aid instructor many years ago in a previous life that I did long before politics, and I can tell you many people have often told me that they wouldn’t know what they would do if they hadn’t had first aid training. You know, I hear things like it’s easy to distinguish the difference between...

I’ve heard several indications that there was an attempt to undermine the GNWT’s position by calling and harassing the lenders about the GNWT being incompetent and unable to manage this type of loan. I’ve heard this from various sources that expressed this quite adamantly. I would think the Finance Minister would be quite concerned and shocked by that suggestion.

The fact is we can’t have the reputation of the GNWT put at risk. I ask the Minister, once again, if this type of concern is out there, what would stop him from wanting to get to the bottom of why the lenders pulled the carpet out from...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s no secret that the Deh Cho Bridge Project has had its difficulties. It’s critical that we continue to reflect back on some of the experiences that have happened and learn from every opportunity how we can fix the mistakes and certainly not repeat them in the future. My questions today are specifically in relation to the GNWT’s relationship with the project lender who, for some reason, cut off access to the construction account sometime in February or March 2010. My questions are directed to the Minister of Finance.

Has the GNWT conducted any investigation or review...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to talk about the market disruption caused by the Minister of Transportation and this McLeod government by sole sourcing the Highway No. 4 realignment, which frankly, Mr. Speaker, wouldn’t pass the smell test of ITI’s Market Disruption Policy.

As we all know, Minister Ramsay has been consistently critical of sole-sourced contracts as a Member in this Assembly, but now he’s in Cabinet, he’s reversed his position; because if you listen to the concerns in the community, you would hear people referring to him as Reverse Ramsay now, the new champion of sole...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I‘d like to table the following document, titled the “Commissioner’s Opening Address: Creating Conditions for Success” that was delivered earlier today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question about the new love affair for the Department of Transportation for a negotiated contract, how many sole-source negotiated contracts or similar types of documents have been signed under this Minister’s watch since taking the helm of the Department of Transportation last fall? Thank you.

Clearly, we can see how thin skinned the Minister is by turning it into an issue like that. As I said to start off, my issue, quite frankly, is the process, but if it hurts his feelings, I mean, I can rephrase my question.

I have to actually admit I liked his quote, and that will be my question, which is it’s not about the competency or the fair price, but his question was: How can we guarantee these things without going through an RFP process? Mr. Speaker, that is the question.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just saw her a few minutes ago; I think she’s still up there. I’d like to recognize Sandra Taylor. She’s the president of the Yellowknife Seniors’ Society. I, too, at this time, would like to recognize the wise elder Jim Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, May 25, 2012, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Tabled Document 2-17(3), Commissioner’s Opening Address: march 26Creating the Conditions for Success, be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.