Robert Hawkins

Mr. Speaker, the reason I ask for a meeting of the minds so one-off deals aren't happening, Mr. Speaker, or some daycares are being told what they want to hear but then another being told elsewhere.

Mr. Speaker, in short, they're losing employees because the grid is controlling their funding and the daycares are facing closure, probably by summer. I had asked three of them, and they were saying that's the right timeframe; we're going to run out of money. So, Mr. Speaker, when programs are being cut, outings are being cut, food is being cut, what can the Minister do to stop that tragedy? Thank...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Raising the childcare issue is an interesting one, especially because we're getting e-mails real time here at the desk.

Mr. Speaker, my question back to the Minister is what -- or sorry, my question to the Minister with respect to the overall bigger picture of the issue here is what type of ability does the Minister have to reset the wage grids within the regulations as currently designed? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I'm asking the Minister would she convene an immediate meeting and host a discussion with them about trying to solve their financial challenges, because right now they cannot afford to keep their doors open any longer, people are turning jobs down in the Northwest Territories because they know there are no spots, and they're losing employees to other jobs because they cannot pay them outside of the wage grid. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister call for an immediate discussion with these people? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First I want to start off by recognizing the Mildred Hall pages. Mildred Hall is the school in the downtown of Yellowknife, and it's a wonderful school. I send both of my kids there. And the attendees of our pages from that school today are Jackson Gorman and Tyrell Cook-Gargan is a constituent of mine. As well as I'll follow the Member from Deh Cho's lead, I wish to also recognize one particular translator. She happens to be my favorite, and coincidentally a constituent, so I'm not saying that they're tied together, but Ms. Sarah Cleary. She is one of my favorite...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We found out with great shock there last year that the northern bonus program was cut in the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. It was embedded into the deepest of the budget details and I, like many members, didn't realize it had been done until after the fact. My question for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment is simply this: What type of analysis had justified that choice to eliminate that program that is very near and dear to many of our returning students here to the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, maybe to help the Minister, the old Minister used to say in the fullness of time, which if you were paying attention, that could mean any time. So needless to say, please don't use that further proof of what's happening.

Mr. Speaker, establishment of new legislation for a polytech university is the cornerstone of where it's going, defines it, and everything then comes out of it. In other words, its budgets, its plans, its mandate, etcetera, etcetera. It needs legislation to be real.

Mr. Speaker, when -- sorry, on the website, it says it will be released for completion obviously --...

Well, it's funny because I get -- what's the right phrase -- I don't want to say targeted, but I get target -- I'll say it anyway. I get targeted for not giving my questions to the Minister or advancing this up, but yet she scooped my last question. So good on her for being on her toes, Mr. Speaker, instead of heels.

Mr. Speaker, that said, I just want to reaffirm, with the contract coming up, will she ensure that Members are involved in some type of early discussion and will she commit to this contract we are going to do health care card business differently and more improved? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's probably rare I get to make a statement like this. I'm sure we will all agree in this House that health care dollars are precious. It's very difficult to find agreement on anything some days, but I think we might be able to agree on that.

Mr. Speaker, the questions I'll be raising today are to the health care Minister, clearly, regarding the security of health care cards. And that's always been something of interest of mine because if I recall during one of my previous assemblies, we had more health care cards out there than citizens. What an interesting paradox it...

Mr. Speaker, the Minister said something probably where I was going next at the end of her last answer which was believing that it did not increase the return. Would the Minister, in a response to my previous question, be willing to table that analysis before the House; in other words, as a return to the oral questions or whatever function she wishes to desire, also with the analysis of is it actually playing out as initially planned? So in other words, have they reviewed and studied the initial decision? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And for the record, I appreciate your guidance. Mr. Speaker, my question is when can Members expect this draft legislation to come forward for review? Again, I can't stress enough, nothing can really happen without it hence we're waiting and want to ensure that the process is moving forward.