Robert Hawkins

Mr. Speaker, colleagues, and most importantly, Northerners today, Mr. Speaker, as always of course, our system of consensus government at times can be a source of pride and on occasion we look to the parliamentary traditions and Indigenous values to guide us as we get to our outcome. While the Assembly operates with sometimes good consensus and sometimes less good consensus, we do our best to get there without an adversarial way but, unfortunately, winner takes all sometimes is the end result.

Right now, we use first-past-the-post system to elect MLAs to this chamber, despite the fact that the...

And, finally, Mr. Speaker, one of my most favourite subjects I would like to raise here, the senior envoy.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has appointed a senior envoy to the Government of Canada to strengthen intergovernmental relations and advance territorial priorities, they say. My questions are for the Premier:

Can the Premier provide a month-by-month breakdown of all individuals and organizations the Senior Envoy has met with in the calendar year 2025, identifying the names and positions of those met, along with the dates, locations, and purposes of each meeting or...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise with pleasure. I have 23 written questions today -- I'm kidding; I have three. It's nice to see people are paying attention.

So, Mr. Speaker, my first written question today is regarding the Mackenzie Valley Fiber Optic Line.

Mr. Speaker, there are concerns that the Mackenize Valley Fiber Link (MVFL) is not building capacity and growing the economy as required. My questions are for the Minister responsible for Strategic Energy, Infrastructure and Supply Chains:

There are concerns that the Mackenize Valley fiber link (MVFL) is not building capacity and growing the...

Mr. Speaker, there is some truism to the statement just made. What I will say is I sent the email on the 11th. She -- there was a follow-up on the 12th saying -- I am reasonable -- yeah, you need a little more time. Mr. Speaker, all of these questions are simple questions. This isn't my question but they're simply asking about their appointment start dates, their mandate letter, etcetera. Most of this is very easy information.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister -- this is the question: Can the Minister articulate before the House the reasoning of this delay; are they waiting for session to end or...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can appreciate the fact that the Minister may not have them on her fingertips but you would think that this is such a high priority we'd have the numbers in real time regularly at her fingertips. That said, can the Minister -- would the Minister be willing to provide me them directly? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During our Bring Alma Home challenge there last year, which eventually was successful -- I am grateful for all those involved -- it rose a particular question that the Northwest Territories does not have a Cemeteries Act. And I've talked to the Member for Tu Nedhe that this is something we should work on, including some other people in the community. And just to be clear, Mr. Speaker, the primary function of a cemetery act, not an extensive list, of course, but is to protect the standards, operational responsibilities, financial accountability, and protection of...

No, I didn't refer to income assistance. I am talking about any threshold that's tied to income -- sorry, any program that's tied to income thresholds so all children equally could apply, not just those below the test she provided in her previous answer. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all know spring break's on the doorsteps with some excitement, and people and parents with children with disabilities share the same excitement except they have different types of responsibilities and additional challenges. My questions will be to the Minister of ECE, and they're really built around the concept of accessibility, affordability, mental health, and fairness.

Mr. Speaker, my question specifically now is with many families facing financial pressures, what initiatives can she or her department ensure that our young people who do have disabilities and...

No, Mr. Speaker. I was raising --

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My second written question is with respect to cost of living.

Mr. Speaker, Northerners across the territory continue to face growing and persistent pressures from the high cost of fuel, food, housing, and other essential goods and services, challenges that are especially acute in remote and small communities where supply chains are limited and affordability options are few. My questions are for the Premier:

Can a list of programs and services be provided that support lowering the cost of living across departments?

What immediate, short-term affordability measures are the...