Robert Hawkins

Thank you. Written words speak louder than oral words. So what is the Minister willing to table before this House or even put in a letter to Members to show that MACA is committed to this, rather than just standing here and saying we’re behind it? Well, let’s prove it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week on Thursday I was trying to raise the issue of 911. The fact is, the concern in Yellowknife, as well as across the Northwest Territories, is this file still has gone nowhere.

So I ask the Minister of MACA, who is in charge of the 911 issue, I guess one could look at it that way or I don’t know what he’s doing with it. So that’s where my first question lies.

What is the Minister of MACA doing to move forward the file of 911 to ensure we have safety for all Northerners as requested by NWTAC, the City of Yellowknife and Northerners at large? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, when I was visiting constituents this summer, as I do each summer, I heard a number of complaints about this government, which should really be no surprise to anyone in this building. In fact, there were so many complaints about this government I don’t know if I can fit them all in, even in replies to the opening address.

However, particular attention was paid to this government’s lack of attention to families and their bottom line. People told me devolution is important over the long haul, but they can’t make the short haul, so the long-haul details really don’t matter.

In...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I could hear you that time. I apologize to the House in full. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I don’t disagree with the description or the common sense brought forward on this issue by the Finance Minister, which talks about the administration and the trust, the headaches of carrying on a society that probably isn’t necessary. I’m not arguing that. The issue I’m trying to lay before the House, quite simply, is did they provide a letter or any type of guidance to the House on is a $100,000 party okay. As far as I’m concerned, that’s 25 percent of this money. If you add the $25,000 on top of that, we’re talking one-third of this surplus money is not left for the building...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What I was going to say, in a roundabout way, was I find it difficult to take back passion and energy, but with that said, what I will do is I will respect the ruling and I will apologize for any concerns that I may have inflicted on Cabinet. What I will say, in short and in final, Mr. Speaker, it will not temper my passion to get the job done. Thank you.

I will just say that I do not agree with that interpretation and that I hear the Minister that the legal opinion may say that, but it’s my interpretation that when the money is to benefit the building, it is intended to benefit the building, not to be a celebration, party, travel fees, whatever. So I would like to register my concern and certainly grievance on this issue. Members in this building will know this is not new, this is consistent from my earlier opinion on this and I think the additional $125,000 should not be wrapped up in plane tickets or parties or whatnot, and what the whatnot...

I appreciate the answer from the Minister. The remainder balance, just to be clear on the record, because I’m not sure it’s an O and M supp question, I’d like to know officially how much that is allocated to and if the Minister could explain to me the policy by which the money was to be spent. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It was my understanding that there was a lot more money transferred to the Legislative Assembly by, I’m not sure what we call it, the Board of Governance; I’ve forgotten what it is called, the name. Sorry, thank you, the Building Fund. So the Building Fund, how much was fully forwarded to the Government of the Northwest Territories as an appropriation to the Building Fund? They wrote a cheque and I want to sort of start cross-referencing the number being spent or allocated today. Thank you.

Has the Minister of MACA ever gone to the FMB Cabinet table to fight for 911 and is he able to prove that for a fact? A lot of Northerners in this city and across the territory all feel that this issue continues to get dusted off and ignored. Thank you.