Robert Hawkins
Statements in Debates
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. Chairman. This is a particular issue that may not have been fully supported in committee but the spirit intended in this particular one is, as I’ve stated a few times, which is we want to make sure that the fund is protected and the act is protected so that people at a whim don’t decide that they’re going to spend the money without any due thought and support. The original concept didn’t get the support in committee and certainly by the Minister, but it was presented as a suggestion to put it in the review and allow the review to take that time and give it due consideration if...
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to now move a motion.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a few observations here. I really am concerned with the purpose not being sharp enough. I disagree with my colleague who thinks or believes strongly -- and I say that respectfully -- that dividends should be paid, but I think the purpose really needs to be narrowed down over the long haul. Although I don’t necessarily think it needs to be done today, but one of the issues being is that if the purpose is truly for the people of the Northwest Territories, then it needs to be directed as such. I think this money needs to be targeted directly to our revenues that we...
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m not speaking for committee, but I certainly am sure in some ways when I say this is a very exciting opportunity for the people of the Northwest Territories to have this fund come forward.
Mr. Chairman, I had hoped over the years, over the course of the last four years that the government would develop what I call a revenue stabilization fund to help assist with corporate revenues when they go down due to downturns or re-filing of corporate taxes, and the problem with the Northwest Territories is we have a very challenging opportunity before us when we need to raise...
Mr. Speaker, I think it was amply clear. I think the answer was not amply clear. To put it in a different way, I’m well aware and I have no doubt that this Minister is well aware of many people who are summer students who keep coming back to the same jobs. They’re being given job offers in February and March even before the summer student season starts.
Mr. Speaker, the whole line of questioning is about trying to ensure that there’s fairness here, and if it smells funny, that tells me that something should be investigated. I’ll tell you when people are told that folks already have jobs in...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I cited a number of concerns with the summer student hiring process. The process is more than just how many students we’ve hired; it’s about how we hire them and, of course, what type of promise and opportunity we provide them. I think it’s quite understood that we have an obligation to ensure that our future workforce is certainly prepared for the opportunities before them, and I think it’s an important role.
Mr. Speaker, HR at present doesn’t have the official coordination powers and authority to, in my view, fully manage the summer...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Edward Esau. He’s a Page here helping us do our business of the Assembly. He’s most notably known as the son of one of our staff members, Phoebe Esau. Thanks for your help here today. Thank you.
I move that subclause 10(2) of Bill 10 is amended by:
striking out “and” at the end of paragraph (c);
deleting paragraph (d); and
adding the following paragraph after (c):
recommendations respecting whether the act should be amended to include a provision requiring a special majority to make further amendments to the act or to authorize transfers from the Heritage Fund; and
recommendations respecting any other amendments that should be made to the act.