Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Madam Chair. If I could just follow up on the other expenses under phone bills. If the Minister could indicate if the territorial government is charged a flat rate for long-distance charges, do we have any specialized plans or anything like that? I realize it wasn’t just phone bills, but is the government engaged in a contract, therefore, we don’t pay, obviously, market rate for phone long-distance charges? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a motion to read.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate you pointing that out. I’m asking how is this statement being realized by waiving the BIP? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will pause on that question for now. The Minister indicated quite often we bring lawyers to these things. Does the Department of Justice pick up that travel cost? Why does the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs pick up that cost if it’s the ministry’s cost? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will further vouch for the simplicity rather than paying from one treasury into another treasury door. So I can recognize the simplicity of not charging back. The last area that I want to probe and get a little more clarification, I had mentioned earlier and it probably got lost in my questions, which is the role and the obligation of other departments. Is there an obligation, for example, that any other department must consult with the Department of Public Works, recognizing the expertise and the role that the Department of Public Works plays? Is there any role...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think I've exhausted my questions at this stage. I do have a motion so I will pause at this stage in order for anyone else with questions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am looking at the BIP, it says under section 1, statement of policy, I go to subsection 2, “provide financial support through the reinvestment of corporate earnings to the northern economy. My question is what indication does he have by waiving the BIP will that meet that statement I read earlier, that we will have investment in our northern economies by waiving the BIP? Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will actually release the mike at this moment. I see other Members would like to speak, and I'll just be in the queue after them. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just to dive a little further into this question, is there a chargeback function; for example, if Aurora College wants a new facility in whatever community, it doesn’t really matter, but if they want a new facility is there a chargeback function, for example, the design, some of the planning, maybe even the management is pointed out earlier? If there is a chargeback function, how does it work? Do we charge it as a market rate function, et cetera? On the last part, is there any obligation of the departments to use Public Works in that regard, in regard to chargeback...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think I'll just finish with this section in the sense to get an answer maybe. What type of advertisement did the MAA proceed to get some of these individuals who negotiate, who research, who provide advice, our value for devolution? What type of arm's reach did our territorial government go out to get these folks, and why didn't we continue them from before if these positions have been existing for some time, and maybe if the Minister could reference if they had been in existence for some time. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.