Robert Hawkins

Merci, Monsieur President. Mr. Speaker, it has been three and a half years since Stanton Territorial Hospital last had a board. Since that time, this hospital has been under the direct control of the Minister, the Department of Health and Social Services and through a public administrator. In 2003, the Minister, and I have to say with some credible vision, established a Joint Leadership Council made up by the Minister, the deputy minister, and the chairs of all the health and social service authorities around our NWT. The mandate of this council includes providing advice, general guidance...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I personally think that’s a shame that we don’t know solid numbers of what we’re talking about. So, Mr. Speaker, referring back to my Member’s statement, I had spoken about a couple of options before we implement this strategy. So I’ll name them quickly. First, let’s get the real numbers out before we react. Second, let’s create a strategy to have unused tags returned to the department as in a deposit or return fee. Third, let’s create a progressive step so people can get a third and fourth tag at an increased cost. Would the Minister consider these as reasonable...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize Judith Knapp. She is a wonderful friend and a constituent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement today is about Caribou Forever. The report tells us that 40 to 86 percent of the caribou have disappeared over the past five years. Are the caribou restrictions addressing the real problem? Or, Mr. Speaker, do we just react rashly to an emergency situation that should have never started? Resident hunters are being singled out, Mr. Speaker. With the lack of numbers on how many caribou are really being taken, are we really solving the problem? We don’t have solid numbers on the wolf population. We don’t know for sure what the real reason is...

I move that this committee recommends that the Executive Council table a comprehensive response to this report within 120 days in accordance with Rule 93(5) of the rules of the Legislative Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to speak in support of this motion. I want people to know truly that, as the Member for Monfwi has said, this is about fair treatment. This is about respect for the elders. This is about showing that we care about their valued work and we do not believe this motion…This motion says we do not believe that their work should be undervalued. It should be appreciated for what they do. This will not break this government to take this into consideration and I certainly hope that this government is listening and I certainly hope the Premier will allow Members of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At least the Minister is consistent. I didn’t get an answer on that. So if a hunter goes out there, shoots a cow, what happens to this guy? Does he lose his truck, does he lose his gun, does he go to jail for two years? What happens if an honest mistake is made and an honest hunter is faced with the choice of hiding the meat or ignoring it? What happens? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to continue to ask questions to the Minister of ENR regarding the caribou problem as I see it. In the Minister’s own words, we don’t know the exact numbers out there, but I propose positive suggestions out there, such as issuing a third and fourth tag to potential hunters who want these. So would the Minister consider those ideas and come back with a response? It’s a positive suggestion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again the Minister has reaffirmed that we’re implementing a strategy with…(inaudible)…nobody wants wasted meat, whether they’re a GHL holder or they’re a resident or a non-resident. Nobody wants to make honest people do dishonest acts, in case we hit a cow instead of a bull. Mr. Speaker, what is the Minister going to do when the mistake factor happens when someone either shoots a cow by accident or they shoot two caribou when they only have one tag? What are we going to do about the honest factor? Thank you. Honest mistake factor, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Referring back to my Member’s statement today, I will have questions for the Minister of ENR. Mr. Speaker, specific to the groups of GHL, resident, commercial harvesters, and non-residents, can the Minister tell us today, by breaking out individual groups, how many caribou each individual group takes yearly? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.