Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a heavy booklet here that’s double sided. There are 40 line items a page and there are about 10 pages here of groups that we make go through hoops and wringers every year to sign up for their funding, and they only get the phone call at the 11th hour on year-to-year funding. They have to do proposal after proposal every year. This creates instability and they can’t hire workers. My question for the Premier is will he look at addressing the problem with multi-year funding, as outlined in the social agenda tabled in this House in June of 2002, and address this...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you for being very clear on your support, Mr. Premier. Mr. Speaker, I believe that these NGOs provide the frontline service that our government does not provide. Does this Premier have a position in this government that these NGOs provide a significant role to the social fabric of the Northwest Territories that the government is not offering in basic service? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m certainly glad to finally see the Cotton Ball Club has taken their cotton balls out of their ears today. There were lots of cotton balls there. Okay.

Mr. Speaker, I’m rising today to talk about multi-year funding once again. I brought this issue to the floor of the House back in October last year, and I’m bringing it again because of the news article in today’s Yellowknifer regarding stabilized funding needed for non-profit groups. Mr. Speaker, there’s one quote out of this that I think is critical to emphasize before I continue, which talks about the struggling NGOs...

Thank you, just one last question. It has been raised at committee level, the question of being able to teach in the Tlicho language as the primary language. If the Minister could provide clarity on their ability to provide teachings or instruction; again, not questioning the quality of education that they are teaching, but in the context and the delivery vehicle of how they are teaching. If the Minister could comment in that regard. If the Tlicho people would want to proceed with teaching it in their language, do they have that ability? Are there any restrictions? Do they have to consult...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a general comment. I will first start off by saying that I am in support of this and I will be voting in favour of this bill.

Just for the sake of the public of course, there are concerns. Of course, we are establishing a new education board and health board. Maybe if the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs could outline how the agreement would work. For example, if there is incompatibility in the sense of a standard, the GNWT would like to move forward with a different standard, if the Minister could give us an example on how that type of relationship in those...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to talk about the lack of a coordinated policy for housing for seniors and people with disabilities. Mr. Speaker, I don’t think it’s the responsibility of this government; I think it’s the honest duty of this government to make sure that we address the housing needs for our seniors and disabled constituents. Mr. Speaker, I still speak firmly that we do not have a coordinated access program for barrier-free access housing, Mr. Speaker. It should be a principle of this government to make sure our seniors and our disabled constituents are treated fairly and properly...

Nothing further at this time, Mr. Chairman. I will take his commitment and accept them sometime tomorrow. Thank you.

Thank you. Could the Minister also provide the results of those appeals, whether they were upheld or overturned? I am not looking for further details, just whether the committee voted in favour of the student or not in favour. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Speaking to the SFA grants specifically, would the Minister be able to tell me how many grants are withdrawn every year? If a student has been disqualified from their grants, for whatever reason, could the Minister tell me how many grants are withdrawn every year?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In no way would I suggest that we should build under the building code. It seems as if the building code is designed as a minimum and a lot of people stick to the minimum, but the minimum does not create quality of life, Mr. Speaker. I think the Minister agreed that quality of life is important somewhere in there. He did mention that policies are being revised. I think I’ve heard him even say we need respectful living with dignity. Mr. Speaker, my question then to the Minister is would he look into a policy that evolves with the times, that addresses the needs of...