Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m just curious if the Premier can provide some updates as to what work has been done to help get some of the positions that are typically staffed through Indian and Northern Affairs established here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, my clear evidence of this House, many Members asked many questions repeatedly. Not just once. Not just twice. Not over one year. Not over five years; maybe even longer than that. Mr. Speaker, the point being is that many Members continue to challenge that mighty mountain by raising an issue up and saying we’re not going to give up. So has the government given up on Ottawa, and if they haven’t given up on Ottawa, when can we expect another letter asking for financial support for this particular project? Because I can guarantee you that there is no infrastructure project across...

Just on that financial note, has any work been done specifically to show that it’s in everyone’s best interest to fulfill negotiations on these types of agreements to kick off the financial process for self-government? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said in my Member’s statement, I believe that the Deh Cho Bridge process has had many challenges. Mr. Speaker, I also want to clearly say that I don’t think a 9 percent increase on this project is a scandal, by any measure. Mr. Speaker, what I think is the true scandal of this project is where is Ottawa’s help on this potential project. I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation, when was the last time Ottawa was asked for money to help support this project? Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I’m wondering if the Minister would be willing to engage the 15 tables to ask them if they have an appetite to find a way to accelerate the self-government agreement process. And furthermore, if he’d send one more letter to Canada in that regard, which would speak to the same issue? It, perhaps, would be in Canada’s interest if we were in support of a process that was accelerated. So would the Minister be willing to find out if any of these tables would be interested in an accelerated process for self-government agreements? Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I guess my question next being is: has it ever been put to these organizations, each of the individual 15 tables, about would it be in their interest to consider accelerating negotiations and searching for principles that would work to accelerate it? Has that question been put to them? Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chairman. I move that committee reports progress. Thank you.

---Carried

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With all due respect, I don’t think the Minister sees what I’m trying to get at, which is the fact that I agree that the public system is there to top up, I agree that the public system is to back up the person as the backstop, and I definitely agree that the public system is the safety net provided to all our citizens. My fear is that we’re leaving potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars or even up to millions of dollars over the course of a number of years that we’re not tapping into the third-party insurance that is legally mandated. I’m not asking her to make...

Then by saying that we all have to work together, does that then not instil the reality that someone could obtain a veto or what is the process therein? Thank you.

I appreciate the answer from the Minister. When I say this it is not directed at the Minister, it’s the problem. I want to say this can’t be actually taken lightly. People have to be well aware that we could actually be saving a lot of money out of the public purse if we considered this opportunity and in many cases a reality. Is there a policy within the Department of Health and Social Services that when somebody arrives at Stanton or any other health centres, one of the first questions in their information forms that they fill out is do you have third-party insurance that could cover these...