Robert Hawkins

Thank you. I think today is a great opportunity if this Minister of Health and Social Services would like to avail himself to it, which is what are many of those good recommendations? I think he said there may be upwards of 10 recommendations. So what are those good recommendations they’ve been hearing from the communities so we can get a sense of what’s actually happening out there? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister of Health and Social Services did a Minister’s statement on the Forum on Addictions and Community Wellness. I want to quote a couple of things. It says not one community in the entire Northwest Territories can claim to be free from health and social problems caused by addictive behaviour.

That beginning statement is very telling about the problems we’re having here in the Northwest Territories. I believe in prevention and, certainly, enhancing established treatment facilities, as the Minister has highlighted in his statement, but I think we need to go just a...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think I just have one question. I think we’ve cleared up everything, as far as I’m concerned, and I just want to say I think I just have one question. It speaks more to the philosophy. I think the Minister’s heard enough from me about my concerns on consumer affairs and whatnot. I’d kind of like to bottle it up and maybe I’ll call it one, hopefully, clear ask, which is: What can the Minister do about the somewhat public anonymity that hides behind consumer affairs?

I’m not suggesting they’re not trying to reach out there, but I think there’s a general perception from...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week – the exact date was Monday, February 25th – I had asked the Minister of Transportation some information regarding the work on the winter road, or potential permanent road to the NICO Mine, to the Dogrib communities of Gameti and Whati. In that Tlicho area that I wrote, one of the comments back from the Minister, he says my speculation about the work going on behind the scenes and the person I was talking to from Fortune Minerals is it was all guesswork on the Member’s part. I just received an e-mail from the Minister’s office. Maybe the Minister can inform...

Thank you. There have been piles and piles of reports by experts, advice in these particular areas. The government could field a library on its own on how much it’s studied over these particular initiatives.

I’m tying this point to expert advice and expertise on the panel. Maybe the Minister can speak to the expertise this panel brings to this discussion on the Addictions Forum, and maybe he could use this occasion to highlight what expertise and experience they have around this to ensure we’ve got the right people in this process. It seems like one that was kicked off quietly then set out to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I was talking about the Addictions Forum work and certainly trying to compare it to the work that’s already been done to date and tying it equally together with some of the issues I’ve raised, as well as many other Members have raised here in the Assembly today. It’s no surprise to the Minister and I’ve repeated it many times. I believe we need a treatment centre here in Yellowknife and that we need treatment facilities that are appropriate, of course.

My question to the Minister of Health and Social Services today is: Speaking to the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, now that we’ve narrowed down that the Department of Transportation is Bob the Builder on this particular reference, what innovative construction techniques have been found by the Department of Transportation to ensure that this highway will be built and maintain a decent standard? I liken it to Highway No. 3 as we’ve all seen fall apart over the years after and even during its building.

Land lease. Would the Minister provide me the last time land leases were looked at? I’m looking for the information as to when the last time land fees or leasing fees were adjusted. How do we come about with a particular rate on charging those things?

Although we’re still under the directorate, and I harken back without going to the page that is under the direct to be description, we have strategic planning and policy support. When I draw that to our attention here, do we use our support mechanisms to develop policy or policy initiatives, in relation to direction given to Arctic Energy Alliance?

Thank you, Madam Chair. It’s my further pleasure to offer more insightful comments and questions to this particular page. I was reading some information here under responsibilities, and that’s referring to one of the particular transfer agreements from the Government of Canada to the Department of Transportation. For the official record, we should say that’s the transfer date of May 1990.

Under the responsibility section, plus sections, sections, sections, under there it further goes on that, “The GNWT will assume the following responsibilities…” and if we further follow the chain down, “...