Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment this afternoon. In my statement today I spoke about the challenges working families have and are faced with day to day with trying to find competent, affordable, quality childcare. Mr. Speaker, we only have about 1,200 childcare spaces in the NWT and families are not able to afford them. I’d like to know what the Minister is doing, if he’s aware of this problem, and what initiatives is he taking on to follow up and deal with this problem of childcare spaces and affordability of those spaces....

Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like the commitment or at least the clear assurance in this House by the Minister that people with disabilities aren’t put on the backburner, that their needs or requirements aren’t put off to the shelf and ignored. So can I get that clear commitment in this House today, because I don’t think that they should be? I just want to make sure that it’s absolutely clear. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, about two weeks ago, I sent an e-mail to the Minister of Health and Social Services regarding some disabled constituents of mine. They are looking for some assistance regarding any support programs we have on the books or in existence, because they want to get an assisted dog to help them with their disability. One is in a wheelchair and the second one needs an assisted dog because they can’t walk properly due to a lot of reasons. But the e-mail hasn’t been answered. So I guess the question for today is, will the Minister be responding to my question?...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister says there will be a consultation. I’d like to know what “will” means and who it’s run by and what’s the mandate being provided to whoever that “will” is in this particular case that’s doing this review. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the last government, devolution seemed to be the end all and be all of a focus that they have. I certainly think that we have many more issues before this Assembly to make devolution the only issue we talk about. I’d like to make sure we talk about housing and education and a whole lot of other things. But, Mr. Speaker, if a devolution deal is before us, there’s not a single Member on this side of the House who wants it to be at any cost. As we all know, it’s always about the numbers; and money certainly is a big issue. So my question to the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, we seem to avoid the…The question keeps getting asked and the answer keeps getting avoided. The fact is, the YWCA's Alison McAteer House -- I'll say it clearly -- has a real possibility of being shut down and it's not because the funding agreement is going to be pulled, the fact is the funding agreement is not set up in such a way to fund them properly. So what is this government going to do as of January to pick up the services offered by this closed women's shelter if something is doesn't immediately? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement today I talked about the concern that many NGOs have, which is about funding. Mr. Speaker, I also highlighted one of the NGOs here in Yellowknife, the Alison McAteer House, that probably could best be described as probably on life support right now when it comes to funding. Mr. Speaker, during the election of the Premier process, I mentioned I would push them hard on proper funding. So my question to the Premier here will be today, it is will he investigate this problem with NGO funding right away and will he take steps to...