Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have to first start off by saying I am so excited to hear that the government is responding to demands from MLAs in fighting the crime, Mr. Speaker. So on the heels of my Member's statement today, I'm quite taken aback because sometimes Members bring forward discussion ideas and proposals and I was so pleased that the Premier brought forward the safe communities initiative in his opening statement. So my question, then, to the Minister of Justice would be, Mr. Speaker, what are some of the details and timelines of a proposed new bill on Safe...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In Mr. Roland’s fiscal update yesterday to the people of the Northwest Territories, there were two potentially positive announcements that could have a positive impact and a serious effect on our capital infrastructure in the Northwest Territories. The first was the $18 million increase in the operating surplus for the last fiscal year, and the second was the commitment by the federal government to respond to a request to remove the $300 million debt limit by the end of this year.

Mr. Speaker, two things arise out of this. The first one is, I’m definitely concerned that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 7, oral questions, on the orders of the day for one question. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to hear the Minister’s list of priorities, because I am not sure we have another need out there that demands such a high priority as our dementia facility. We need to be treating people in a proper facility suited to this specific need. Will the Minister tell me today, where are his priorities on this facility in comparison to any other priorities? Is it the top priority of his department to get this dementia facility built in a timely way in the city of Yellowknife? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement today, as well as on many other occasions, I speak about the need to ensure that we have a territorial dementia centre built sooner rather than later. Mr. Speaker, it is a serious concern that I have that there may not be funding in this upcoming capital budget plan for our next budget fiscal year. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister of Health and Social Services is, what is the current status of the territorial dementia centre facility that is supposed to be a partnership between the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This situation reminds me of the old saying that you can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your family. Mr. Speaker, the public picks us, our friends pick us, our families pick us to all come to this Assembly as a family and to work together. Like many things, events in real life, things happen that we regret. I can personally tell you that I regret seeing what happened yesterday. I can feel the concern that Mr. Ramsay has. You can hear it in his voice.

That said, I also feel the sincerity from the Minister of his regret, because he made it quite clear, without...

Thank you, colleagues. I really appreciate that. Thank you, and I will keep it to one question; I promise. Mr. Speaker, during oral questions earlier, I had asked the Minister of Health and Social Services questions about the territorial dementia centre that was planning to go in Yellowknife. The Minister said, on my unedited hand notes here, he said that the dementia centre is now on the capital plan. Those were his words in this House when I asked about it getting on the plan and getting on with it. So he said "now on the capital plan." Can he tell me where that is, where I'll find it...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I say this with respect both to the Minister and other departments, but I don’t really care about other departments when I talk about the Health Minister. I want to hear about the Health Minister’s priorities. I know other Ministers will be kicking on the Finance Minister’s door if they heard there was one single dollar available for any of their projects or programs. I would like to hear from the Minister. With respect to other departments, like I say, I don’t care about that. I want to hear about the facility for the dementia centre. What is he doing to kick down...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the Minister was in the House yesterday when our Finance Minister gave his statistical update. Mr. Speaker, I know he must have heard the Finance Minister say we had $18 million higher than our original projection. So what is the Minister doing about putting this dementia centre up on the priority list? What is he doing to knock down, kick down at whatever, get that door off to speak to that Finance Minister to make this project a real go? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we always have lists that we study to death. What I am asking for is a clear commitment from this Minister today. Yes or no; will we put action behind this? Will we make this a decisive decision in this House today to find ways to find good sensible programs for people to help them make environmentally sound choices? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.