Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to acknowledge a couple of constituents of mine: Derek Graf and his father, Ron Graf. Ron happens to be an employee with the GNWT, a director of RWED. Last weekend Yellowknife hosted the NWT badminton championship. In junior division, Derek played hard and received a gold medal in men's singles. To follow that up, Mr. Speaker, Derek also won a gold medal in men's doubles with his badminton partner and best friend Luke Coedy.

Mr. Speaker, if you thought that wasn't enough, well I have more. In the men's open division for doubles, Derek...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Maybe if the Minister could elaborate a little further, and I'll set this out clearly so I completely get a good picture of this. As I see it, we get a deposit on the bottle, the bottle goes out, gets returned, the deposit is returned to the customer who returns the bottle, but we leave the bottles with the depot. Do we pay the depots a contracting fee, is that why we leave them the bottles? I would think that we would take the bottles and do something with them if that's the case. How does the depot make their money? Do we pay them separately on contract and the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Speaking on that note, I do appreciate the fact of the breakdown of what other income means, as well as the actual breakout of the numbers, but you did bring me to another subject under other income when you referred to the deposit of bottles. I assume the deposit of the bottles, that fee goes back into a fund that pays out people when they return the bottles. Is that correct?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Minister. The Minister indicated that next year we would have to be a little more aggressive, to the tune of $20 million. I am looking for a forecast of what we may expect. Is it the Minister’s intent that we could be looking at hiring freezes, wage freezes, discussions with the unions on drastic changes? He set out a very passionate and aggressive target for himself, which I admire. In his position, you have to be good. So I am waiting with glee to see some of these ambitious projects. Are hiring freezes, wage freezes or discussions with unions some...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the honourable Member responsible for RWED brought to my attention an initiative that was called integrated arts strategy to support art and culture in the NWT. Part of this strategy is designed to bring support to the arts and craft industry. Current and immediate actions proposed in the integrated arts strategy are supported by having raw materials and equipment available for people out there. This strategy, as the honourable Member stated in his letter to me, is to be completed by early 2004. Since the time is nearing, my question for the Minister of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I want to thank my colleagues, as well. Mr. Speaker, there are many traditions that make the North unique. Cultural traditions go far deeper in value to the people than just dollars. We must do something to sustain this industry before these traditions are lost and no longer practiced, or by the next time I see beaded gloves they're only at the museum.

Before I close my statement, I want to mention a quote brought to me by my constituent. She says this industry is not supported. But it seems that this government, when we have dignitaries travelling to the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member's statement will be addressing a concern brought to me by one of my constituents earlier this year. This concern has brought me great concern. This issue is about the hunting and trapping industry. It has been designated as a sustainable industry, and it gives a stable livelihood to people in the North. This reflects northern traditions, which is a very important issue in the Northwest Territories.

One of the many keys to the success of this industry is security due to the government funding and the ongoing support when the fur markets go up and down...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question is with regard to the application of the territorial BIP policy and the exceptions that are made through their discretion.

Mr. Speaker, would the Premier, the Honourable Mr. Joe Handley, table in the House the Cabinet policy that clearly demonstrates to all Members and the public how Cabinet consistently decides if a project warrants the waiving of the BIP? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it was only a few years ago the Department of Transportation was advocating that this airport was too small, the building was too small. Now we’re looking at expanding it in such a way that we’re running into a corner. What consideration, taking that into account with this new security upgrade, was the Department of Transportation doing in that regard? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to the Minister of Transportation. Mr. Speaker, the federal government has a strategy whereas their policy is forcing all major airports across Canada to upgrade their security to address the drastic circumstances that have happened a few years ago. One of those airports identified would be the airport in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, my direct question to the Minister is, who will be paying for this forced and new initiative to upgrade our airport in Yellowknife? Thank you.