Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak against the motion that will have us adjourn until February. This session was scheduled to go until November 4th and I speak in favour of that because I would like to see all MLAs continue the opportunity to hold the government’s feet to the fire on asking questions. I find, in my opinion, as an MLA it’s very difficult to get the government to move with those stone legs, those lead feet I was talking about earlier today, without pressing them hard with questions in the public and we’re missing that public opportunity. So I’ll be voting against this...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what is the plan to deal with these increasing power bills and oil bills? Is it just to pay after the fact, or is there any plan to mitigate that potential significant bill that will be increased this year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess then that’s fine. I must not have been able to hear it on this side of the House without my earpiece. What I will say is kudos to our Premier, because without us having a letter out there to say we want to know more, it’s difficult to make good policy. So I will lend my support to the Premier of seeking further information at this time. He can have my support on that basis, and we will proceed to the next level when we get to see the letter and we get the reaction from Ottawa on that potential briefing some day. Thank you, no question.

Thank you, Madam Chair. If the Premier could give me some indication as to when this letter may be going out, I suspect it’s probably under some quite significant scrutiny to make sure on a big issue like this that it gets written properly so the messages are clear. Would the Premier be able to indicate roughly when this letter would be going out? Because I’ll give the Premier the latitude of the assumption that if it’s going out this week, maybe next week, I am certainly satisfied to wait until the letter goes out, but if the letter is going to be sitting on his desk for another month due...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, my question is in regards to the concerns I was raising last week, which was Canada’s involvement with the missile defence program specifically with the United States, and my questions were directed to the Premier during question period at that time. I can refer to the page and whatnot but, just in a brief summary, I was asking about our involvement and where is our policy and what are we doing about it. The last item mentioned in a return to my question by the Premier was basically this issue would be brought up with his meeting with the Prime Minister...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise again to follow up on some of my questions to the Premier last week; that was Friday, October 22nd. I had asked the Premier many questions in regard to my concerns about Canada’s involvement with the missile defence program. Mr. Speaker, briefly I asked him to bring forward a policy that does not exist for a position that does not exist to the Prime Minister’s view. If I may quote on page 2131 of unedited Hansard referring to Question 288-15(3), the Premier is quoted as saying “I’ve already made that request to the Prime Minister in earlier discussions. I am...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister knows I have a lot of respect for him but, Mr. Speaker, I think we’re losing the point and losing sight of this issue. When he talks about annual basis, we didn’t foresee this in March of this year. We didn’t foresee this when the business plans were being built a year ago that oil prices would practically double, Mr. Speaker. I need to hear that we’re doing this on a proactive rather reactive basis, Mr. Speaker. I need a commitment that this Minister will take a proactive position rather than paying the bills long after the energy has been...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question will be to the Minister of FMBS, the Honourable Mr. Roland. Mr. Speaker, my concern is we need an attitude change out there because of the high cost of fuel. What is our government doing to monitor the consumption of energy, referring to both power, as well as fuel oil with respect to GNWT assets? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I am very concerned about the world oil prices and how they can effect and cause crises elsewhere in the world. Mr. Speaker, years ago we could not assume what happened somewhere else would have an effect locally. One hundred years ago, you know, the perspective on the world was much different; 50 years ago it was much different; and even this summer oil prices were much different and we never would have thought that they would have a link.

Mr. Speaker, today what happens in Iraq and Venezuela has an effect in the Northwest...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to say clearly I will grudgingly vote in favour of this bill. I am disappointed because if we vote in favour, it goes through without any serious objection, unfortunately. If we vote against it, we create ripples that are difficult to see at this time. Will they still charge forward? I have no doubt, so I have to vote in favour of it because I feel like my hands are tied.

I can’t see that far in the future, so I don’t know what will happen if we don’t. I feel left out of the process, so what do I do? Do I vote against it just because I feel left out of the...