Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m going to rise with a question in regard to what I talked about earlier in my Member’s statement, Mr. Speaker, which is the Quebec deal on parental leave and their ability and control over that program. Mr. Speaker, the federal government has basically kicked the discussion door wide open and said come talk to us, and I believe Quebec has their priorities in line with their people. I think we need to ensure that, as well, in a meaningful way. I think this government needs to make tracks to ensure we do have those priorities in line with the people....

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I am going to talk about the Quebec Parental Leave Program deal, Mr. Speaker, that has just been moving forward as of late. Mr. Speaker, I can truly tell you that I believe in my heart that there is no better job out there than being a parent. I think that there is no better federal policy out there than one that recognizes the importance of parents and, therefore, puts a priority on parents by giving them one year’s paid leave through their employment service to support that parental leave. Mr. Speaker, I have experience, and I know that nobody out there...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this could be a hallmark of this government. We talk endlessly about hydro, the big plans of the future and whatnot. Well, let’s talk about the people who will be here after these diamond mines are gone, after these oil and gas things are gone; let’s talk about them. They are the ones underpinning our society.

This is just whitewashing the issue. Will the Premier take responsibility and say we are going to make it a mandate of this government to solve this problem? We are going to open the doors, we are not just going to send them here, send them there...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am going to continue asking questions to the Premier, in regard to multi-year funding.

Mr. Speaker, I was concerned that the Premier may have implied in one way or the other that we should be accountable for that money. If that was the case, I am going to go back to Hansard and see if he was implying it. Because I think that that is a point of privilege and in no way would I imply in any way that we should not be accountable for our multi-year funding.

Mr. Speaker, I am talking about how these NGOs are being funded. I am talking about making their life...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my next question for the Premier of our government truly is a straightforward one; maybe we’ll get a direct answer on this one. Mr. Speaker, in June of 2002 we had our government table the action plan for a social agenda. Where is this government’s action plan to addressing the need for multi-year funding to address the starving stability that’s out there for NGOs and volunteer organizations? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise again to ask questions about multi-year funding and my questions will be directed to the Premier of our government. Mr. Speaker, it’s my opinion that multi-year funding could be the hallmark of this Assembly instead of oil and gas and hydro. So with that question with regard to multi-year funding, is it a position or a policy of this government to create instability or uncertainty amongst our volunteers or in the NGO sector, or at the very least is it a position of our government, although maybe not written, to support our volunteer or NGO sector...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just one last comment, not a question. I wish to again reaffirm my support and I will be voting in favour of this. At this time I wish to acknowledge, I have been told through my friends in Ottawa, that the Premier/Minister of Aboriginal Affairs did a great job in front of both committees, of the House of Commons as well as the Senate. This emphasized that he charged this issue forward. I have heard it firsthand from witnesses in the gallery, who watched him at play. In other words, the Senators and the MPs didn’t have a chance with Joe in the chair. Thank you...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Minister. In that regard, picking up on the small example again, to help drive forward an ultimate clarity on this. If the Tlicho people wanted to, for example, change the days of school or the number of hours the students had to attend school, does that change once it’s acknowledged, whether it’s agreed upon in the long run, once it’s established in that area? Does that force the territorial side to adopt that rule, or just formally acknowledge that they have agreed? For example, the Tlicho people go to school less, again receiving the same quality...

I almost called a point of order on myself.

---Laughter

Almost. Mr. Speaker, I don’t know what to say. If I were to nail the Premier’s feet down, he would still out dance me. He would still out dance me, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have people telling me their organizations are struggling because they put application after application in every year and they are waiting for the certainty at the 11th hour of March 31st.

Mr. Speaker, this government can shift with the times. This government can work with these organizations. This government has that mandate. We can address it. Mr. Speaker, can...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate what the Premier just said, but the other day we were talking about multi-year agreements with the Finance Minister with regard to the City of Yellowknife. The MACA Minister told me the FAA Act handcuffs us for these types of discussions. I am not really sure I am getting a clear answer from three different Ministers.

Mr. Speaker, we can negotiate with these things. Let’s open up the door, let’s create a one-window approach. Who would this Premier suggest for all of these organizations to approach, yes, with the proviso, that the money is...