Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Madam Speaker. While I am really looking forward to hearing actually when we are going to table this program, because I am getting phone calls from Inuvik as well as Yellowknife in regards to how does this program work, how we justify one family getting a different amount than another family, there seems to be no clear transparency on this sliding scale. Would the Minister clearly say today when we expect him to table this information that he agreed to on Friday, and will he table it in a timely manner so that questions can be posed fairly in this House before it adjourns this...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, last session I spoke in this House for a limited junk food policy out there for young students to tap into. I want to take this afternoon’s Member’s statement to congratulate the Yellowknife Catholic school board for their initiative in dealing with a firm policy that deals directly with solving some of these junk food problems out there.

Although a number of schools in other regions have stepped forward to take on initiatives of this nature, I think the Yellowknife Catholic school board needs an extra applaud of thanks for taking control and removing...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I believe in the fall last year, we passed a motion that at least supported wholly on this side of the House about the establishment of a treatment centre in Inuvik and in Yellowknife. I don’t think it would have broken anyone’s heart here if we had to put a treatment centre in Hay River to see that facility continue its life if that was the mandate. Could we not look at other options to fill that facility without moving the TTC to Hay River from Yellowknife? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to know what other options were looked at and why TTC was singled out. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. With that in mind then I’ll just ask directly is it the design of this program to get people out of social housing, which is a good thing, but is it designed to get them out of social housing at any cost? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I want to thank the Minister for that efficient reply. Now I will ask the fine Minister the detailed question, which was how many applications were turned down? If we turned down one, that is a travesty. So how many applications did we turn away at the door because the funding pot had dried up with us giving away outrageous payments of $50,000 plus, $60,000 plus, $72,000 plus? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Humblest apologies, Madam Speaker, humblest apologies. Madam Speaker, I think the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation gave me an excellent answer to a question I really hope to ask one of these days, because it was a very qualitative answer. The question was, clearly, if someone was approved of the financing, approved of the waiting period, approved of everything, that great answer that was said by the Minister. Were any applications returned because the funding pot had dried up? I am referring to only approved applications. Were any returned because...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I rise again today on the foot of yesterday’s Member’s statement. I still have serious concerns with the EDAP program. Madam Speaker, I want to firmly ensure that people of the Northwest Territories know that I am absolutely proud that this government is putting people in the North into home ownership, and I think that’s the number one issue that needs to come forward here so people know that it’s important for me.

However, Madam Speaker, I don’t think it’s fair that we continue to give one family $72,000 to ensure that that one family gets into a...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will agree with the Minister that putting 570 from social housing into home ownership is a great thing, it really is. But we were only able to help 14 people last year. If the Minister wants to mention that we are going to start putting people from social housing into outrageous $400,000 houses, that is a little out of touch. I think the program needs to be cut in half and we could help 28 people with reasonable payments. Would the Minister table the sliding scale of this program, so we can all clearly see how it applies to families so we can get a real sense for...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I’m still concerned with this EDAP program that we’re not really getting anywhere, and I’d like to hear some real solid answers from the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. I want to start hearing some real details of how we’re helping honest people out there to get them into houses, and I want to see some reasonability of this program, because I still think it’s out of touch and it’s only helping certain people. The reason I say that is because the program is structured in such a way that if you have two incomes, you’re practically...