Robert Hawkins

Centre. You’re always right, Mr. Speaker, don’t worry.

---Laughter

It’s the only way to do this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a list and I’ll run through them really quickly. Certainly I’d like to acknowledge Sandra Taylor, president of the YK Seniors; Vivian Squires, executive director of the YK Seniors. Thanks, Mr. McLeod, for recognizing Ed Jeske, Mr. Hockey; Chief Superintendent Wade Blake; Jenny and Dave Tucker, neighbours up there; Phila Fyten, she works with the Commissioner’s Office; Floyd Adlem, who was our piper today; Monique Marinier, that would be Tom Beaulieu’s partner; Lorraine...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to give a Member’s statement today. First off, I’d like to congratulate you in taking the helm of the Assembly. I look forward to your leadership in the Assembly for the next four years. I’m quite pleased that you’ve assumed this role and I feel I have every confidence in what you’ll be doing for us here in the leadership role.

Mr. Speaker, next I’d like to acknowledge the constituents of Yellowknife Centre, and sincere thanks goes out to them for the opportunity to serve them in this 17th Legislative Assembly. Yellowknife Centre, in my belief...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize, once again, the two Pages from Yellowknife Centre. We have Emma Ouellette and Edward Esau. I certainly hope they’ve enjoyed their time here paging at the Assembly. I know many of us have appreciated their help and the services they provide. As well, we appreciate all the Pages and the work that they do, so I want to thank them personally.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to use my final Member’s statement to thank a lot of people over the last four years.

Firstly, as I entered this building I thanked the citizens of Yellowknife Centre, and I’d like to begin the same way by finishing this term by thanking the constituents of Yellowknife Centre, the many friends and the seniors who constantly provide advice and support through the years. As we all know, we deal with challenging issues and sometimes very emotional and stressful issues, and many of my constituents have provided much needed advice and support through those and have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Menicoche.

The committee reviewed the following reports of the Auditor General:

Report on the NWT Housing Corporation: Public Housing and Ownership Program - 2008;

Report on Contracting for Goods and Services in the NWT - 2009;

Report on Education of the Northwest Territories - 2010;

Report on the Northwest Territories Deh Cho Bridge Project - 2011;

Report on Northwest Territories Health Programs and Services - 2011.

The committee continues to monitor the issues identified in the Report on Contracting for Goods and Services. Progress on the issues...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s with regret that I’ll say that at this time I’m unable to support this motion. I’m concerned about the delay and the suggestion of the delay. You don’t have to be a Conservative to recognize that the Conservative Government is trying to help this territory with devolution. Any further delay or intentions or signals from this House that we want a delay or any stoppage of the devolution agreements on file could set us back years.

Undoubtedly, I would say I’ve always supported the aspirations of the Aboriginal peoples and self-government. I continue to say that today...

Perhaps, maybe if the Minister of Health could paint the pictures of the focus of the future of midwifery here in the Northwest Territories. Is it the goal of the Department of Health to help facilitate the growth? Is it just to place it in a few...provide this opportunity in a few communities here and there? What is the mandate and focus of this RFP and, certainly, will the general public be able to participate in the development of this so they can hear true testimony about how important this is as a service here in the North? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I wanted to highlight in some manner about how important midwifery services are here in the Northwest Territories. I also wanted to give credit to Leslie Paulette for making it the success it is. It comes with quite a national reputation of being a brilliant success all started by a small program in Fort Smith.

Mr. Speaker, the program in Yellowknife has been cut and it was a very important program to many families. My first question to the Minister of Health and Social Services is: when will the midwifery services be offered again in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some months ago the Minister of Health and Social Services announced the suspension of midwifery services in Yellowknife. This was not welcome news for many women and families who had benefited from the services and those who would like to plan for the future. A recent petition supporting the program had 304 signatures. To me that speaks out loud and clear about how important the services are.

When midwifery services were first offered in Yellowknife, it was part of a plan to expand the Midwifery Program that began in Fort Smith, to reach out to other centres across our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister talked about the money, you know, and I hate to think that the Health Minister, although oddly enough it’s the same as the Finance Minister, but are they going to invest some financial analysis into this study, report, and into the planning? In most cases it’s more affordable for the Government of the Northwest Territories to have a midwife providing the services than either flying the mother in from a community or flying a doctor into a community. Even in Yellowknife it’s more affordable having a midwife providing these services than an average doctor.

Jus...