Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I'm not trying to create a fight on this one. Maybe I'm hearing a tone or not. I'm not. I'm just saying that is there a way to pause this investment knowing that -- I don't have the exact dates, Mr. Chairman, but I'm going to say knowing in three months that, you know, people will no longer be there. If it needs the money, then pause it, and reinvest the money. I mean, it's just that's the point I'm making. I didn't say delete it. I just seen -- this is what people see as frustrating about money. I mean, if I did say that, that's not what I was trying to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I get to the details of my final comments, I want to thank the Member for Boot Lake. He's relentless on this issue. And those of you reading or listening at home or those historians 20 years from now that pay -- combing through Hansard, they heard it here, this Member's been relentless on municipal issues, so certainly by all means. He just every day brings up help Inuvik; we need more stuff. But in all honesty, Mr. Speaker, he is a good Member, and I do appreciate the work and support he's given this initiative. That said, I support all Regular Members on their...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS municipalities and community governments across the Northwest Territories are inadequately resourced to operate their communities and have been advocating to increase funding levels from the Government of the Northwest Territories for several years;

AND WHEREAS the $5 million increase in community government funding realized in the 19th Assembly does not recognize the increased inflationary costs to communities;

AND WHEREAS communities across the Northwest Territories have been facing emergencies since 2020 through COVID-19, flooding, and wildfires. The Northwest...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item number 15, notices of motion. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, June 12th, 2024, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Range Lake, that the Government of the Northwest Territories work in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to implement a crisis intervention team, through a partnership that supports the response to mental health emergencies, at an appropriately staffed level in order to maintain 24/7 support;

And further, the purpose of the crisis intervention worker is to enhance the response and reduce police contact in mental health...

Perhaps in a sentence or two, maybe we could explain why we have such a division -- significant division here in the headquarters region of North Slave if there's nothing being developed from the oil and gas perspective? In a sentence or two. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support the Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh bringing this motion. I think it's a wise -- it's a very targeted motion, which is in other words of saying here's a problem and here's a straightforward solution, and I recognize his work and advocacy on this issue, and I think the community -- his communities are lucky to have him. I also want to thank the Member for Deh Cho for speaking passionately about this issue. I mean, without her support on this, you know, I mean, it's nice to see great support, you know, to get on this particular topic...

Thank you, and I appreciate that. And the Minister didn't say away as in, hey, I'm trying to school you. The Premier -- I appreciate you pointing it out that, yes, it does involve the Minister. So I'm saying I recognize and appreciate her tone on the response. That said, though, she is in charge of FMB which is the overarching financial policies. That's why I directed the question directly to her.

Mr. Speaker, again, perhaps maybe I can approach it this way: NGOs don't feel they're being recognized in this budget, and they feel that they're being overlooked. And I guess my question comes down...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, NGOs have been advocating to me to not support the current budget as presented. They feel that, in their words, that they're getting lip service on their issues, their multi-year agreements are largely ignored, and inflationary cost issues continue to be a challenge and are not recognized for the merits that they're trying to explain.

So, Mr. Speaker, NGOs are worried. Ultimately the question for the finance Minister is is what is she demonstrating in this budget that we're meeting those particular needs and challenges that NGOs are facing and what message...

Mr. Speaker, we're getting awful close to a point of order wherein she keeps saying Indigenous people, and I feel it's drawing the attention of I'm trying to separate our field some motivation. There is none. So, Mr. Speaker, as I qualify that point, it's not about a racialized issue in any way. It's about impacts on the community.

Mr. Speaker, I'm asking what type of discussion is the department of health having with the neighbourhoods about these pending impacts that are coming to the neighbourhood? As I've given examples, I won't repeat them, will the Minister agree to meet with the...