Robert Hawkins

I guess, for my clarity, what would be considered a normal and fair interest rate charge on something like this? Furthermore, do we owe money to the Nunavut government in any way?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two written questions for two different Ministers. The first questions are for the Minister of Finance.

Can I have the complete cost breakdown of each individual regional director’s office for the budget years of 2007–2008 and 2008–2009?

Please provide all the costs associated to establish each individual regional office, such as lease, lease improvements, one-time capital expenses like vehicles and small equipment, and any other expenses to make each individual office open and relevant.

I appreciate that the Minister is probably quite exhausted with these questions. I understand that.

What policy would Health and Social Services be operating under to allow them not to collect the fees or to fastforward the fees? Obviously, if we’ve got outstanding debts from 1999–2000, that’s a number of years ago — nine, as I read it. What policy creates that flexibility of not recouping these costs or putting them to some type of collection agency? Would the territorial government be charging a late fee of some sort, an interest charge on these past fees? As I see it, we are backstopping the...

Mr. Speaker, my humble apologies go to the Minister of Finance if he actually had a commitment in there. Usually, they’re so thinly veiled they’re hard to recognize. Well, they’re even worse from the Minister of ENR. But can we expect to see something in a timely way by this fall, before business plans, on this specific subject?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have similar concerns as other Members do regarding this. I think it’s important, on record, to exercise my concern in this regard.

When I see issues like this come before us, I often think of them as bread and butter, and I couldn’t run my household like this in the sense of having unpaid bills.

For my clarity, Mr. Chairman — even if it’s been repeated earlier, but for my clarity — how long has that outstanding billing been in arrears with the Nunavut government? Can I get a sense as to what this government’s doing to recoup that money?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During Member’s statements I raised the issue of the Infrastructure Acquisition Plan. It’s like an open book for businesses out there to bid, tender and whatnot because they have our clear reference guide as to what we’re willing to pay, not to say we don’t pay more at times. My questions really go to the Minister of Finance to find out what he would be willing to do to help update the process to ensure we don’t show all our cards when it comes to going out there for bidding opportunities. Is he willing to look at updating the infrastructure plan, as I had suggested...

Mr. Chairman, I think it’s the issue of up and leaving residency. I’m not talking about going for prolonged holidays or personal reasons: if there was a need that drew someone away, that’s obvious and reasonable. It’s the issue of packing one’s bags, selling their house and establishing roots — whether it’s a job or whatnot — elsewhere. That’s the issue, really. It provides an element of a double standard, whereas if an MLA in this room picked up and moved their residence to Alberta or B.C., Ontario, who knows where, they would have been deemed to have resigned. That’s really the clause I’m...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I wanted to talk about the Infrastructure Acquisition Plan and its format. We’re all familiar with the format of the Infrastructure Acquisition Plan, which lists each project individually along with the specific amount budgeted for each item. Projects range from $50,000 for a new patrol truck to millions of dollars for major infrastructure like schools. I’m concerned that this practice of publishing the budget for individual items may be preventing us from getting the best deal on our capital projects.

Suppliers, armed with the knowledge of the government’s maximum...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a matter that has arisen, not specifically with every commissioner in one of these positions, but as an issue with some, and it’s the issue of residency. This is an area that’s, of course, the establishment…. The legislation would fall under the appointment process provided by the Board of Management and the Speaker. I was just wondering if the residency issue will be taken on as an issue in this next coming year, through the Speaker’s Office, through the Board of Management, to potentially update.

I think that has satisfied my concerns at this time. Thank you.