Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is an exciting time to be a Northerner. From mineral wealth to ecotourism, the NWT is known as a vast source of untapped potential.

Today I want to speak to another source of untapped potential where better focus needs to be directed. That, Mr. Speaker, is our northern hydro power potential.

Now that the Taltson expansion has been put on hold and now that the Bluefish dam replacement will cost almost $40 million, a lot has changed in the landscape as to where the NWT Hydro Strategy is going, or certainly could be going, Mr. Speaker.

With eight major rivers in the NWT...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. But let’s hope it would be affordable.

Mr. Speaker, has there been any work done on that aspect to become a direct exporter of power to Alberta? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the cost of living is a very important issue for me as well as many Members, and I believe that any strides we can make towards the cost of living of Northerners does great things for the, I hate to say it, but the kitchen table economics for the everyday person, and power is a critical component of the cost of living here.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to hear from the Premier as to what focus his direction has provided towards grid expansion or coordination of the territorial power being produced here in the North thus far. Perhaps with the work done on the Taltson to date could lend...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to as well recognize Victoria Velez. She’s the intern here with communications. She’s a constituent of Yellowknife Centre.

I, too, would like to recognize the Jacobson family. The longer I work with Jackie Jacobson, the more I feel for them. Very good to see them all here.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll be directing my questions to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger. I, too, am concerned by the summer student hire, or I should say lack of hiring thus far. My first question to the Minister of Finance is: the Department of Finance hired nine summer students last year; to date, how many students have they hired this year both in the territorial capital as well as the regions?

I think the Minister answered the question, I’d say, quite thoroughly. I want to give him credit for that particular answer. I think that’s only fair.

I would disagree with him on the context of blanketing tenant collection on rents at 161 percent, because I think what that does is present the House with a false number. What I mean by that is, I’m not saying that the Minister is misleading the House, what I’m saying is...

---Interjection

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I slightly disagree, because we don’t actually know that 100 percent of people paid their rent. Now he’s said that 161 percent are paying, we’re getting 161 percent back. Whether that includes the rent and arrears, we don’t know that breakdown, and that’s the type of information that I think would be helpful for all Members specifically targeted to each LHO.

Mr. Speaker, the other issues I raised in my Member’s statement was distributing fairly the annual income for a particular tenant and their family to take out some of the spikes and certainly the drops in both their...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although recognized very nicely by Minister Miltenberger, I, too, wish to recognize Lorraine Phaneuf, executive director of the NWT Status of Women Council. As well, I’d like to recognize a very distinguished elder in our community and a resident of Yellowknife Centre, Mrs. Esther Braden. Thank you.

I think the Minister answered the question, I’d say, quite thoroughly. I want to give him credit for that particular answer. I think that’s only fair.

I would disagree with him on the context of blanketing tenant collection on rents at 161 percent, because I think what that does is present the House with a false number. What I mean by that is, I’m not saying that the Minister is misleading the House, what I’m saying is...

---Interjection

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although recognized very nicely by Minister Miltenberger, I, too, wish to recognize Lorraine Phaneuf, executive director of the NWT Status of Women Council. As well, I’d like to recognize a very distinguished elder in our community and a resident of Yellowknife Centre, Mrs. Esther Braden. Thank you.