Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the fact is, it is set out in the socio-economic agreements that we have the right to call these diamond companies to meet the Minister, to speak to the Minister on special issues written here discussing training, employment and business opportunities. It is to my understanding this clause has never been exercised to find out what is the problem and maybe what the GNWT isn’t doing.

So, Mr. Speaker, I demand this government to exercise this clause 8.5 in the agreement and to call these mining companies before this Assembly, before...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to seek unanimous consent to return to item 6 on the agenda, oral questions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll take that yes whatever way it came. Mr. Speaker, can the Premier agree to write this letter, and copy all Members of this Legislative Assembly, in a timely way so we deal with this problem? So would the Premier write a letter within the next 30 days requesting that the presidents of these diamond mines make themselves available for this Assembly to have this type of question period and discussion period to deal in partnership with this problem? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m just following up with my Member’s statement with questions to the honourable Premier. Mr. Speaker, my constituents are challenging me to find new ways to deal with the northern employment problem and I believe that we have the solutions and the tools right before us. They’ve always existed and, as I’ve highlighted earlier, is 8.5 in the BHP socio-economic agreement where we have the ability to call upon the diamond mines before us to have discussions regarding training, employment and business opportunities. So the tools have always existed. Now we...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I could just get the Minister to reaffirm, I know it's been said a couple times already today, but there was a commitment, I think I understood, that the Minister would bring regulations back to committee for their overall review. I appreciate that commitment; I just want to make sure that it still exists, it's still on the record. If the Minister would mention in his area about possibly tackling the people who refuse to pay their licence. Would it fall under this particular area…Sorry; remit the licence fees, my apologies. Would it fall in this area as he...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today will be about legal aid service levels and how we are meeting those challenges here today, Mr. Speaker. It is no surprise to Members here that I take a serious interest in the Legal Services Board as well as the legal aid issue and service levels. Mr. Speaker, I quickly did a search on those two topics and I came up with about 32 questions since I have been a Member in this House. I didn’t do a search on e-mails or written questions. I have always been about fair and timely service for those people in our society that need it most...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to say on record, I spoke to an operator not even a week ago about this and they were quite enthused that the Tourism Act was coming before the Assembly, and I even sent them a copy just the other day now that it's printed for the public. That was one of their concerns, about the operators paying or remitting fees. So I just want to make sure that the Minister is well aware that there are operators following this issue and they're looking forward to the Minister finally dealing with this in a firm a clear way. So I appreciate the Minister. No question...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe I will respect the fact that the Minister didn’t mention the name, so maybe I will be cautious at this stage of this next question. If he wishes to mention it, I will leave it up to him. Mr. Speaker, this type of new pilot project initiative about getting potentially a lawyer out there into the community, into an area where people need legal services most, people need advice on what to do. We are talking about people who are at the most risk situation and helping them get out of those terrible situations. So, Mr. Speaker, when does the Minister of Justice see...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk about the effects of the recent cuts by the federal government and what those effects will have on volunteer NWT as well as the rest of the volunteer sector, Mr. Speaker. This Assembly has recognized the contributions of volunteers and how it plays a significant role in improving our social, economic, cultural, and environmental conditions throughout our North. We are aware of how much they enhance our quality of life in the NWT and they contribute to our economy approximately $50 million, Mr. Speaker.

In March 2005 the Premier signed the GNWT...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to reaffirm. I didn’t say that in the context that I’m against the pipeline or in the context that I’m against resource development, because I have significant environmental concerns as well as economic concerns. Until we get that control, we can’t control either of them. We’re in a difficult situation.

Mr. Speaker, the Premier had spoken about partnerships. I’d like to hear from him today about what is he doing with our local Dene Nation of the Northwest Territories or aboriginal groups to reach outside of the Territories and say, well, wait a minute, let’s...