Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. But we have to consider most loans are paid over 20, 25 or 30 years. This has to be paid back within four years; almost $300 million. Mr. Speaker, this government can never be taken responsibly, until we show that we can deal with overpayments like this in a responsible manner. So we need to be seen as a responsible government, cleaning up the last government's mess. Would the Minister have his officials at least conduct an inter-jurisdictional review of best practices of how federal overpayments are done, and received and taken care of in their provinces? Thank...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I may just say I'd like to thank the students for coming today so they can see oral question period, see history being made, and they're part of it today by being in the gallery.

Mr. Speaker, hoping for the best isn't good or sound fiscal policy. I spoke earlier, in my Member's statement, about the $296 million in corporate tax overpayment that we received from the Government of Canada. We can no longer dodge this, or keep pushing it away, or even ignoring it. So my question to the Minister of Finance is, will the Minister have his officials look into fiscal...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are some loud rumours out there that say Imperial Oil is seriously considering pulling out of the oil and gas project. The rumour mill says that, despite the potential $500 million that the federal government has put on the table, Imperial still contends that the demands from the access and benefit agreement negotiations are still too high. Imperial Oil has not budged an inch, and they are not prepared to offer any more to the claimant groups, from what I have heard. If something is not done soon, in my opinion, the current plans to establish a pipeline in the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate hearing that news from the Minister. Mr. Speaker, my next question for the Minister is, does he have a policy that supersedes all policies about going south for sole source? Can I get some clarity on that to make sure that our northern contractors have an opportunity to bid on these? Again, if they lose them, that’s fine. They want to be able to compete and try fairly. Do we have that policy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, late this summer, somebody in Yellowknife came to me and said they were having difficulty providing service, and they provide medical supplies in the Northwest Territories. They were concerned that they were getting the cold shoulder. So on September 21st, I wrote a letter to the Minister of Health and Social Services asking four brief and simple questions. As of today, I haven’t had any response from this Minster. Before I put my questions to him, I have to point out that it’s these types of businesses who are asked to support the hospital and the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m concerned that there’s no backup plan if the pipeline doesn’t go through. Can the Premier tell me what will happen to this investment if the pipeline doesn’t go ahead? Will we have any long-term plan for the benefits that we’ve been studying or thinking about?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we all know that the Premier’s favourite subjects are devolution, hydro and, definitely, pipeline. So my questions that I’d like to ask today to the Premier are what actions this government will be taking, if any, to prevent Imperial Oil from backing out or postponing the Mackenzie Valley pipeline project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Committee would like to consider Bill 9 and Bill 3, in that order today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This person in Yellowknife who does the medical supply business says they never seem to know or see any purchase tenders go out in the newspaper. Again, they come from the perspective that they would just like a fair opportunity to apply and bid on these contracts, but they feel that they continually get the cold shoulder. What’s the policy on public tenders, or do you just go straight to sole source in the South? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Referring to my Member’s statement, I pointed out that there were more than 30 positions that have mushroomed all about pipeline preparedness. So millions of dollars are being poured into this. What, if any, is the strategy for the long term with respect to these pipeline preparedness positions, keeping in mind that this pipeline may never go through? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.