Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had the pleasure yesterday of meeting with the folks from Dechinta and they expressed, very well by the way, their desire about continuing in their program here in the Northwest Territories and they cited about their need of support, and support means cash, obviously, but it also means enabling legislation.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, what work is being done on developing legislation that could allow Dechinta to create its own northern university? Thank you.

So, when a Member of the Legislative Assembly stands up and cites a particular issue and tries to draw it to the attention of the Minister, is it because it’s this Member or is it because one Member is bringing an issue forward on behalf of an association it doesn’t matter? Is that the attitude we’re getting from this government that we have to have the whole Assembly agree that something matters? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all know how essential services such as foster families provide the Northwest Territories. They are obviously critical to the care of those most vulnerable at certain times. It’s my understanding that only two territories and two provinces don’t offer support through insurance programs and legal support.

I wonder what the Minister of Health and Social Services can do to ensure foster families are protected and provided the right services so when they do step up to the plate to help this government deliver those essential services when necessary that they are supported...

The everyday person doesn’t really care about government policy until it affects them. Frankly, that’s probably the truth.

What energy policy do we need to do and work on, and what can we do today to ensure that we start delivering an energy policy that is delivering results to the everyday Northerner who is trying to get by? Thank you.

Thank you. Once again I’m rising to continue the conversation regarding power costs here in the Northwest Territories. Without having to go through it at great length, we all know how this affects the everyday family and certainly the everyday business that’s trying to get by.

My question for the NWT Power Corporation Minister is that we all understand that restructuring could happen and that could take out some of the inefficiencies within the system.

Can the NWT Power Corp Minister explain what work is being done to analyze the inefficiencies in the system, and where does he see us moving...

Mr. Speaker, respectfully I say I fail to understand why this sort of looming election always affects the work we’re doing in the Northwest Territories. It continues to be the overriding well, we can’t work on this because we have an election. Frankly, the bureaucracy’s machinery keeps grinding forward day after day after day. It doesn’t care who the politicians are. The process and the bureaucracy keeps working forward every day for us. Politicians are talking heads of departments, that’s all.

So, I’m asking what type of time frame can we see a legislative proposal or document that the public...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On February 9th I asked the Premier a question on whether he forwarded on the motion to other Premiers. That motion was the one that was passed in this House regarding the missing and murdered indigenous women. Of course, the Premier says he acts on all motions passed in this House and said he would check on it. He offered to forward me all the copies of the letters. I said I don’t need all of the copies, I just need a note to say that they’ve done this. I also accepted that maybe if it had not been done at that time, to ensure it was done.

Mr. Speaker, I’ve waited a...

I’ll allow the Minister to correct me if I’m incorrect on this point, which is I believe power to the golden gates of Yellowknife is delivered at about 18 cents a kilowatt and I think that there’s a big margin between that and the end user who picks up their power bill monthly.

Can the Minister confirm what the power rate is delivered to the Jackfish plant that comes available for Northland Utilities to pick it up for its distribution cost, and how we can help narrow that gap so Northerners can afford a power increase, especially knowing that in a couple short days we’ll be receiving another 6...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to use the occasion to once again return to the cost of living under the context of power bills, and I’m going to ask questions to the NWT Power Corp Minister.

Let’s start off by examining the cost of power and its distribution here in the Northwest Territories. I’d like to ask the Minister, would he be able to speak to the rates of return to Northland Utilities and the NWT Power Corp in both the thermal, non-thermal and the hydro zones here? If he could do that breakdown on the cost that Northerners are paying to get their power. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish the Premier had let us know that earlier. My question and concern is who would have authority over the House authority to provide the direction? Would it be staff who said this? Has the Premier decided, or would it be multiple… I’m trying to appreciate and understand and get to the bottom of who would have the authority to override this House’s discretion and decision to pass a motion and encourage you to forward it on to the other Legislatures. It just seems odd without letting us know. Thank you.