Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I like to consistently bring this up each year: it’s the matter of the parking in the Legislative Assembly and the grounds for persons in the public and the accessibility that creates.

I know it’s been looked at and considered in previous years. There even was money budgeted in past years. I was wondering if I could have an update on that situation.

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, on page 4…. This is an item I’ve highlighted a few times in the past in the 15th Assembly — the standardized design for buildings. I’m quite pleased to see it’s written into the Minister’s comments.

The issue I have here is that quite often some of these buildings, although they are important infrastructure…. What happens is the infrastructure then turns from needs to wants, and then from wants to artistic design, and then from artistic design to turning it into an award the whole world gets to see. You go from standardized windows of being normal rectangles to really interesting...

Mr. Speaker, I spoke yesterday in question period and asked the Minister of Human Resources about what they’re doing for summer students. We talked about summer students that potentially could be hired by the GNWT, and that process. The Minister alluded to a potential answer to my questions about the private sector. In the past there has been an incentive program out there for the private sector. I think the Minister said there was around a $5,000 potential out there. What is the Minister doing to ensure that the private sector knows this is available, and to make sure that they can obtain...

Just one more question in this area. Well, I certainly hope only one more question. Is that because…? We were talking about space and whatnot, when the Premier talked about revision coming in ’09–10, so I won’t press that too far. But I just want to get clarity, and hopefully, it’s the last time: is this manager position a permanent position that is staffed at this office, or are they a contract or some type of special hire — hired in a special way outside of the normal process?

Well, you know, it’s funny. When the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, or government as a whole, says, “We’ll take action,” it could mean years. But when citizens like my constituents Adrian Bell or Paul Falvo, or I should mention Diavik, which will be now known as Rio Tinto…. I mean, when they decided to help clean up the streets, they could make a decision in that day and then run out there and start cleaning up the streets on these types of problems.

Mr. Speaker, what’s taking this problem so long? When can we see some real action on this? Because it’s not a difficult problem...

The Minister wasn’t 100 per cent clear on the transfer assignment positions. Is that one that is affected and will be reduced, and will that mean there will be one person in the office after a certain period of time?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe in practical approaches to everyday problems. I believe we have a solution before us about this plastic bag problem, which is to use cloth bags or recyclable bags. In my household I try to lead by example. I have a six-year-old who often reminds me about stuff like that, because it’s the young kids who know all about this problem. They seem to be teaching us older folks.

We need some leadership from the Department of ENR on this issue. I’d certainly like to know and get some details as to where this government is on working toward eliminating, in a gradual...

Can I get some further details on this as to exactly what this lease commitment is and how it provides value to the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, and of course to the Government of the Northwest Territories?