Robert Hawkins

My apologies.

Can you say it again? I couldn’t hear you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I realize persuasion is always a lot nicer than forcing people and I’m not suggesting that the Minister become a leg breaker, but I think this policy needs to be a mandatory policy so we don’t deal with this in the future. I’d like to hear the Minister say today that he will look towards making this a mandatory policy where all departments, boards and agencies get involved. I should say where applicable. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier in my Member’s statement today I spoke in favour of the centralized IT service referred to as the TSC. I stated earlier that I think it’s time for the government to implement not an opt-in participation policy, but a mandatory policy for a centralized technical service centre. Pooling our common resources just makes sense. Mr. Speaker, my question for the Minister of FMBS is will the Minister work with the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation to ensure that the Housing Corporation’s transition into the TSC happens this year? Thank you, Mr...

Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question to the Minister is would he be willing to provide all Members a full briefing note on the process and maybe clarify any misconceptions and whatnot in paper to all Members? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I see it, as we were fighting for legal aid earlier in the year, the fact is we couldn’t deliver the service because we didn’t have the place to send them to get the service. So I think, in my view, that this service is being met. Now because there have been concerns about the fact that the other two tenders, tenderees if I may call them that -- I don’t know what they are called -- contractors who wanted to bid on that space, didn’t have a chance to appropriately put in a proper bid. So I guess my question is regardless of someone being late or not late, on time...

Absolutely, Mr. Speaker, as long as I don’t lose my first question. I would be more than happy to reword and take back that comment.

Mr. Speaker, I need to seek further clarification from the Minister, the Honourable Mr. Charles Dent, because the phrase gets thrown out there, in regards to how many years this lease may be and I am not really sure. So we need a solid answer to get this fact down. I also hear that the Legal Services Board is satisfied with this space in regards to meeting their criteria of storefront accessibility downtown and centralized. So are we meeting the needs of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise because I have some concerns about some of the questions, about this lease with the Centre Square Mall downtown for the Legal Services Board; however, my concerns are not quite like the other Member. I actually feel completely dismayed by some of the suggestions.

We keep hearing about the 15-year lease, but it is a five-year lease. So I think we need to get some of these misleading facts out there so they are absolutely crystal clear.

Mr. Speaker, I hear that Legal Services Board is satisfied, so my question to the Minister is, could he clarify on the criteria...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Minister. The words positive, standards, centralized and even sometimes the words harmonization of standards of how we implement things and how we run things and coordinate things come to mind when I think of this, but, Mr. Speaker, would the Minister give me an indication as to when he will bring that discussion to Cabinet in regard to the folding in of the NWT Housing Corporation into the greater picture, the greater good of the TSC? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.