Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my colleague Mr. Bromley, I too wish to speak about fracking and concerns that continue to march on. We’ve recently seen the uprising and the protest in New Brunswick. Even across the three territories, we saw marching of Northerners expressing their views. I always welcome the views, both those I obviously support and, of course, I always welcome the views that I don’t necessarily agree with. It gives me a chance to learn all sides of the equation.

Although I have yet to find the point where I make up my mind whether I fully will support hydraulic fracturing or not...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have talked about this subject for many, many years and I know my colleagues have strongly talked about this subject at length as well. The Aurora College, in the downtown of Yellowknife, needs to be established in a mechanism that helps foster growth and further programming for all students of the Northwest Territories. It is constantly under siege when it comes to residence problems, which is they don’t have enough residence, even their parking. There is just nowhere for it to grow and go.

I hear constantly from the students, the staff and even some board members...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In his inquiry, if he finds out it is a clerical issue or it’s a money issue, will he issue a directive from his office to ensure that this process starts right away? I am being contacted by families who are concerned that their young boys, their children are being left out of this process. Again, a much needed vaccination that is accepted across Canada, why not in the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Worldwide the Human Papillomavirus, or commonly known as HPV, is a common sexually transmitted disease. I could go on at length, but it’s not necessary today, regarding how many problems Northerners have with sexually transmitted diseases and the fact that it is a real problem here. It is a problem whether you live in a large or small community, so we must do whatever we can.

In short, when was this program for vaccination rolled out? The NWT was one of the last jurisdictions. It would have been the last if we didn’t have Nunavut behind us, to finally implement this back...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’ll just quickly run through a few of them. Although a number of them have already been mentioned, it is certainly worth noting.

I have expressed over the years, 10 years certainly, the need for an expanded role for Aurora College and certainly for the Department of Education to respond to the need. Aurora College has, within themselves, outgrown their existing space here in Yellowknife. I’m certainly always pleased to hear Members like Mr. Menicoche talk about how they want to work with other Members to achieve our goals, too, so I look forward to him helping this...

Mr. Speaker, for my final question of the day on this HPV vaccination, I want to make sure it is absolutely crystal clear in this House today that the Minister is saying he is going to see if he can correct it. He says he is going to see if he can fix this process to ensure that they are fairly covered.

I want to make sure it is clear before this House and certainly clear for the people of the Northwest Territories. If this is not the case, I would like the Minister to clarify this in the House through a Minister’s statement, explaining why these young men will not be getting the vaccination...

Mr. Speaker, I am elated to hear the fact that all people matter, according to the Minister, but I would like to hear when young men will matter in this particular case.

What can the Minister commit to today on clarifying this huge error for a huge percentage of our population? Young boys matter, as far as I’m concerned. Young men matter, and everyone. These kids matter.

What is the Health Minister willing to do today to show that they matter to the families out there thinking that this is a much needed vaccination? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the summer the Premier told me that he’d like to be the first repeat Premier and he was thinking about running again, he told me.

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Well, you know what? After listening to the way he spoke to me yesterday, he’s certainly not going to get my support unless he pulls up his socks.

When I listened to the Premier’s responses, and I can tell you I received a number of e-mails and comments from individuals in our community; they were quite disappointed. It seems very frustrating when the Premier’s response to the Members, who have legitimate, reasonable questions...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table my news release regarding an innovative idea on how we can stimulate some good thinking and maybe some ideas to help solve the Giant Mine problem where we have arsenic that will be perpetually taken care of. I am suggesting, let’s reach out and coordinate. My press release spells that out. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s no secret, I recently went with the Minister to the Bakken to do some studying on hydraulic fracturing, and I’m going to table two stickers we received while we were there, and it speaks to the quality and attitude of hydraulic fracturing in North Dakota. The first sticker I’m going to table is Will!ston, Rockin’ in the Bakken; and the second one is Build Baby Build. I encourage anyone to ask me details on the way they do business there. Thank you.