Robert Hawkins

Mr. Speaker, undeniably, I’ll say that you could step out of this building and get away from the throes of what the impression of what the world really wants in this building to actually getting on the street to what the real citizens will tell you, and undoubtedly, I will tell you that they will say the Northwest Territories needs a detox centre.

Mr. Speaker, it’s true that some types of demons in the drug and alcohol areas that they may require specific programming, and perhaps on-the-land programs are more appropriate for those types of problems, but, Mr. Speaker, jails aren’t always the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sadly, as highlighted earlier today, our community has lost another youth and it’s attributed to drug use. The thing is, I continue, as many other Members here continue, to cite the issue of we need a detox centre here in Yellowknife, and if not here in Yellowknife, then somewhere in the Northwest Territories. The Minister doesn’t have to take my word for it, of course. There’s always Justice Vertes or the YK Chamber, the NWT coroner or perhaps even Stanton committee’s position on the need for these types of facilities.

My question directly to the Minister of Health and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I’d like to thank our committee chair, Mr. Menicoche, as well.

As the audit report explains, the purpose of a P3 is to shift a portion of the risks of a public project to a private sector partner who brings technical and financial capacities to the project. A P3 procurement strategy carries risks in that the public sector must establish a working relationship with a suitable partner and clearly negotiate each party’s obligations to the project.

In the case of the Deh Cho Bridge, the audit found that the project was not a P3 because the private sector partner had no...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is an incredible need for intense alcohol and drug treatment programs to be based here in Yellowknife. Alcohol and drug abuse, as we’ve all seen, continues to have a profound impact on this city and the North in every single community. This problem, as we all know, is longstanding, but right now, wherever I look, people are united in wanting to take support and action on this particular issue. We have seen what easily could be defined as a rare and united consensus on taking action on this particular issue.

It is not often that a very respected Supreme Court...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two items I’d like to table today. The first is a mock-up for a tourism initiative program that I’d like to talk about tomorrow, so I’d like to officially table the item today so that I can refer to it.

The second item I’d like to table today is the poster for the 2011 Celebrity Auction: Mad Hatter Spring Gala, which will be held on Friday, June 3, 2011, at the Ed Jeske Arena.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have to explain to the Minister how paralyzing drug and alcohol problems are to people of the North, but the reality here is this government could make that commitment today and not hope that the new Assembly will take care of what rightly is the responsibility of the legislators of today, which is to deal with this particular problem.

The last thing I’ll say, Mr. Speaker, is forcing people to Stanton is not the appropriate place. Forcing people to jails is not the appropriate place. That’s why I’m here today asking the Minister if he will commit. If this report...

Mr. Speaker, today I’m asking not just for bricks and mortar, because I think ultimately that is the long-term solution, but today I really need to hear the Minister commit to when will a plan be put forward to address this. I appreciate the review is looking back as to what was done, but I’m sorry to say that we have a number of experts, I would definitely define them as, who have all said the same thing, which is we need these types of resources available today rather than sitting and waiting.

I’m so passionate about this issue. It doesn’t just have to be here in Yellowknife. We could...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Menicoche.

The committee agrees with the Auditor General that the department’s capacity to achieve its priority of a sustainable, effective health system depends on the ability to monitor performance and health outcomes. As both are currently deficient, both must be improved. The government must support the department’s efforts to do this, including appropriate funding through the annual budget process. It must be understood that data collection and performance monitoring are crucial to sound planning, determining spending priorities, and shaping a...

I did have a chance to read the report and I was really glad that the Health Quality Council did it, and I want to commend them on their work and effort as well as acknowledge the staff from the Department of Health and Social Services on being involved on the ground floor to make sure our input was taken. But the report recommendations really focus on, in my view, is to once the plane gets to Edmonton and how they address those particular areas. My area of interest in my line of questioning here today has more to do with our internal process, the ones we can control and dictate. Like the old...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to acknowledge Ms. Maud Robinson-Spence. She’s my summer student and she’ll be working with me here at the Legislative Assembly and helping me do my duties as a Member for Yellowknife Centre. I’d like to thank her for joining the team and acknowledge her here today. Thank you.