Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question about the new love affair for the Department of Transportation for a negotiated contract, how many sole-source negotiated contracts or similar types of documents have been signed under this Minister’s watch since taking the helm of the Department of Transportation last fall? Thank you.

Clearly, we can see how thin skinned the Minister is by turning it into an issue like that. As I said to start off, my issue, quite frankly, is the process, but if it hurts his feelings, I mean, I can rephrase my question.

I have to actually admit I liked his quote, and that will be my question, which is it’s not about the competency or the fair price, but his question was: How can we guarantee these things without going through an RFP process? Mr. Speaker, that is the question.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just saw her a few minutes ago; I think she’s still up there. I’d like to recognize Sandra Taylor. She’s the president of the Yellowknife Seniors’ Society. I, too, at this time, would like to recognize the wise elder Jim Antoine.

I’ve never said, to the contrary, what the Minister just stated. So I want to make sure that that’s ultimately crystal clear, that I too do believe that EPOs will save lives and are an important mechanism in our justice system. But the way the report was written, it went further on to discredit the RCMP’s position by almost suggesting – I’m being clear here – that they may be biased on their pursuit. On one hand we talk about issuance of why; because we need safety and protection. On the other hand, we have a credible force or agency in our system that says there are problems and we need to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I raised, once again, the emergency protection order issue. This does cause grave concern, as far as I’m concerned, when it comes to the falsely accused, and the justice by itself, by nature, seems to be ignoring them as now becoming a victim. My question for the Minister of Justice is: Does the Minister of Justice believe at this particular time the policies and procedures put in place to issue an emergency protection order are fair and balanced? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve spoken in the past about protection against family violence and the emergency protection order. These orders are essential in protecting domestic violence victims and in many cases they are a very valuable tool in our society. I should make sure it’s clear on the record that I have no issue, whether personally or in my pursuit on this topic, that we should take away EPOs. My concerns are based on the fact that they have to be built around and based solely on the truth. Which now brings me to the issue.

We have seen that emergency protection orders can be issued...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First off, I would like to thank Member Menicoche for bringing forward this particular motion. He is quite right in the context of being concerned about our seniors. Of course, this motion speaks to the fact that we want to support and protect the seniors in future years to make sure that the Old Age Security benefit is there for them.

Mr. Speaker, doing a bit of research, I pulled up information that the parliamentary budget officer has done. He did a study called the Federal Fiscal Sustainability of Elderly Benefits. What he has noted here, in short, without quoting it...

My next question for the Minister of WSCC is: On that particular case, can you explain why if landlord/tenant issues are publicized when they go before the rental office, why family law matters are publicized, why child protection rulings are modified but still publicized and, finally, why human rights cases and law society discipline rulings publicized, why wouldn’t we publicize decisions of the NWT Appeals Tribunal through the WSCC in the context of fairness?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the little leeway you have given me on this particular problem, because it is a big problem. The justice system, the Supreme Court has noted about the potential for people using EPOs is a tool for custody battles and divorces. The last thing I will point out is the report is built around three things: increasing awareness, improve access to emergency protection and to improve protection. Nowhere in this report does it support findings that are crystal clear that say that EPOs can be abused. There is not one recommendation to say we need to make sure it is...

I’m glad the Minister referenced the report, because if he had a chance to read it – not to say he didn’t – but if he did read it, he’d also note that on page 28 of the report it talks about why RCMP like EPOs. They’re a good tool because they don’t require any investigation to issue an EPO. Forty percent of the officers suggested that. But at the same time RCMP have also noted and they feel that further information to confirm the victim’s accusation to ensure that the applicant’s legitimates are applied on good grounds. Pointing at those two variances noted in this particular report, I’d like...