Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my other colleagues here today, I too am concerned about the efficiency and costs of government and what it is doing to deal with that cost. As I highlighted in my Member’s statement, it is clearly mentioned in the Finance Minister’s budget today under Fiscal Strategy. He is willing to seek out creative new ideas. Mr. Speaker, to the Finance Minister, I would like to pose the question. What would be stopping the Minister of Finance from hiring an efficiency expert to review our programs that we are doing? Because I am not convinced at this time that the Program...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In reading the Finance Minister’s budget speech I think he has a lot to be proud of, but I fear, like several other of my colleagues, there are many issues that have been miss-highlighted or completely skipped over.

The concern I want to highlight in a similar manner is the fiscal management; quite simply, the cost of government. Under the Minister of Finance’s Fiscal Strategy section, the Minister was very fiscally prudent when coming to his words when talking about the cost of government and how to bring the cost of government down. Perhaps he was too little on the...

Mr. Speaker, what is stopping the government today for reaching out to the local radio stations, whether it is CKLB, CBC or CJCD, in getting out there to get our message out there? Of course, like any campaign and any situation, it is about who gets their messages out first. Unfortunately, I have seen the naysayers campaigning out there loud and strong aggressively. I often wonder if these leaders are just spinning their points of view without giving people a chance to hear what the AIP is from the point of the view of the government. What is stopping the government from doing this in the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement as well as many other Members who spoke today, we talked about the uncertainty and the communication plan of this government and how they are reaching out in explaining the AIP agreement to the everyday person throughout the Northwest Territories. My question will be to the Premier of our Territory. How is the Premier making sure that everyday Northerners are understanding truly what this agreement is about? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Timing is important. Even the Regular Members put forward a non-biased, plain language document. I can tell you that people scooped it up like crazy, wanting to find out just the average details of what is actually going on and how it is affected. We can do this in a matter of days with our fine staff here. I am just kind of concerned that the messaging from the Premier’s office and Cabinet is dragging on this particular initiative on such an important issue. Can the Minister use what we have provided as an Assembly, Regular Members, to get that message out there to...

Clearly the communication factor seems to be a significant roadblock on this particular issue for people understanding what is happening about the AIP. I know people are trying to form opinions, but, unfortunately, there have been very few, and the few have been very loud, which have caused a galvanization, polar points of views. Mr. Speaker, I daresay the communication plan may be a bit late, so I am kind of worried on how long this particular issue will take. When can the Premier expect to be launching a campaign that reaches out to everyday Northerners to make sure that people know what is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like many of my other colleagues, I too will be speaking about the AIP devolution agreement today.

This agreement signed, I believe, is a great forward-thinking step in the destiny of all Northerners. It’s about many things, but in my view, it’s most importantly about one thing: it’s about the transference of authority to Northerners. As northern people, we are ready to claim that future. This is about who is guiding the course of our future collectively. It’s about who is making the decisions of the northern future.

I’d like to see someone in the North making those...

I don’t know if I can put it better than you did. You spoke very nicely about Gay Kennedy and Verna Currimbhoy.

I’d like to recognize Gay Kennedy for her hard work here for the last two years. I’ve gotten to know her very well and I respect the work that she’s done in this government, as well as the fact that she’ll be a stalwart force who is missed. She’s done a lot of work over the years and I know that her works and efforts can’t be replaced.

Verna Currimbhoy, as you’ve mentioned as well, is leaving us and, as I understand it, she’ll soon be moving to Saskatoon where her granddaughter is now...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I clearly support this motion and I think it is a good thing. I believe strongly that the public inclusion and collaboration on future development of land and resources and our management regime are critical.

Mr. Speaker, I think the public needs to be involved and we need to find a way that does involve them in the appropriate way that we do business. Mr. Speaker, that does not mean we advocate or I should say I advocate that we negotiate in public with our devolution agreements through our AIP being posted on the web or who knows how they get there, but the reality is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to speak to this motion, but, unfortunately, I can’t support the motion the way it is written. I’ll explain why.

I certainly believe strongly that the path of independence is sought through education. I think independent people who are self-sufficient through their education and that gives them the strength to go on and take care of themselves and their family and their future. I feel very strongly that the benefits of education help people in every generation. Education does not hold a single person back once you get that.

As the program is designed now...