Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that was all well and good and I take it for what it was because it was good. But, Mr. Speaker, I did not hear about building the coalitions and the partnerships, Mr. Speaker. The real ones out there, like building it with the AFN. I heard a great statement by Premier Danny Williams about supporting the Northwest Territories’ right to exert our own control. Mr. Speaker, what is the Premier doing with the provinces in getting them to put forward motions in their Legislatures about it’s time that we get control over our own lands? So, Mr. Speaker, would the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This summer I was here when the Prime Minister had mentioned no pipeline, no deal; and he was referring to resource and self-government, devolution deals. Mr. Speaker, I want to hear the Premier of our Northwest Territories say no deal, no pipeline, because the pipeline has got the attention of the country, the federal government wants it. I’m not opposed to the pipeline by any means, but people want this, the federal government wants this, I want to hear how the Premier is taking offence to this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Members.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, what I’m saying is we need significant movement on this issue. Our citizens have been waiting for it in a timely way. I think the adolescence of the Northwest Territories has grown and we’ve matured and it’s gone. It’s time for Canada to recognize that we have come of age and we deserve the respect, Mr. Speaker. Respect is a two-way street. We offer Ottawa respect every single day. Regardless whether it’s a Conservative government or Liberal government, we give it to them, and it’s time that they recognize we deserve it.

So, Mr...

But let's keep in mind, nice is a balance. I don't want him to be nice in Ottawa, because that means he has to be less nice in the Northwest Territories, because I want him to be nice to our people and be tough on that Prime Minister, Mr. Speaker. Be tough on him. He's not going to cry, okay? I feel that the Prime Minister can shoulder a little criticism and I'd like to hear it from our Premier of saying put…Mr. Speaker, I want the Premier to put his foot down and say well, I can't say the right language in the House, but I can say that the Premier can say it in a nice or less nice way of...

Firstly, Madam Chair, let me thank my colleagues for not naying that one. That would have meant I would have had to read 10 pages in of fine print.

Madam Chair, in plain language, this motion that I've put on the floor is suggesting to go back to the recommendation made by the commission, which is suggesting 21 seats in total. Again, Madam Chair, is says one additional seat to Yellowknife and one additional seat to the Monfwi region. That's what this motion means, like I say, in plain language. I'll be supporting this motion. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The things I’m going to say are really reflective of what I’ve heard in my community, the constituency of Yellowknife Centre. The fact is, I appreciate the work the commission did, but we also have to keep in context that they are an advisory group and they do not force us. They are an administrative body that we commissioned out of this House to go find research, come back and to substantiate what they heard into some formulation and then send it off as a proposal to the politicians. Now, in essence, the politicians are the ones that actually have to make the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today, I spoke about the need to have a territorial celebration of the arts. What I was getting at is the Northwest Territories needs to take the lead on initiatives to help embrace and help promote our arts community. So, Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment is, would he look into establishing an NWT arts achievement award night? It could either be an annual or semi-annual event. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will have to be voting against the amendment presented as a motion by the Member for Monfwi. I appreciate his concern and I tried to highlight it in the context of my statement earlier, which is I think he's in a very difficult position because people from the whole Tlicho Nation are expecting him to deliver results, although again I have to underscore that they don't all live within the boundaries or the prescribed boundaries of the Tlicho Nation. So I appreciate the extra workload he carries.

I actually thought the most interesting presentation put on the table...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill 14 be amended by striking out items 12 to 19 of the appendix and substituting items 12 to 21 as set out in the schedule to this motion.

Madam Chair, I seek unanimous consent to have the schedule to this motion deemed read and printed in Hansard in its entirety. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That was a very welcoming answer from the Minister. I appreciate his collaboration and the necessity to talk to the Minister of ITI. Mr. Speaker, my next question to the Minister is, could he sort of outline some time frame that he could look at getting back to committee with this initiative? Could he look at doing this maybe before the next session that begins in February? Could he get back to us on that detail? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.