Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With respect to the two positions, are they currently staffed? Thank you.

Can I get some confirmation from the department it's not an overspent program and we're looking at ways to sort of help fill some gaps. It's similar to the original question, but it sounds like they're still taking applications but if there's no money, why are we taking applications. So I just need some clarity. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And, of course, before I begin my questions, I'll note that being first in the cue and then the power goes out, and I won't say that's suspicious or incidental. Ah, the government will do anything to deny questions, so.

But no, on a serious note, Mr. Chairman, under this section we have water surveillance and we have climate change preparedness. And I'm wondering if the Minister can flesh out both of those two categories as in what the public would see and how they'd be reported for and that's specifically more for the wastewater surveillance. The second piece being...

Just confirming this is new money, not replacement of some sort. That was a question.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I go back to the similar question not the same question because that's against the rules, but I go back to a similar question because the Minister doesn't seem to want to answer the question. She's doing this but literally moving something with the other hand.

Mr. Speaker, how does the Minister explain such a policy that takes away opportunities from Northerners by making them copay? Did anyone say deny coverage from those who weren't covered?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can the Minister provide that detail to committee?

All right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm excited to ask some questions regarding extended health benefits to the Minister of Health and Social Services just in case she's hoping someone else will take them.

Mr. Speaker, we all know the current Minister sat on the social development committee for four years, Mr. Speaker. And I have no doubt she was a robust Member talking about policy and whatnot and how it affected Northerners. Mr. Speaker, the last Assembly shared its consultation regarding extended health benefits with committee and given the fact that over 700 people of the public wrote in and...

I think my question was is can she provide that information, then, if she's not willing to pass it on to the Minister? Thank you.

No, it's I don't have a further question. I've kind of asked it twice. But, really, I mean, when they're looking for more money, I mean, people do wonder where the money's going, what's it paying for, and how are we balancing it out in the bigger picture. It's not directly connected to the overall costs but it certainly it's like saying, you know, one part of the government isn't part of the other. So it's just there are a lot of people still wondering how much is it costing and how much do we keep paying. That's the that's ultimately the issue. So it is a comment. I'm not sure the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I begin, I want to say they must have been serving Happy Meals at lunch time because there's a lot of enthusiasm on this side of the House today.

Mr. Speaker, Tommy Douglas would be rolling in his grave if he saw the changes to the extended health benefits to Northerners, Mr. Speaker. Health care is a Canadiana promise, Mr. Speaker. It's a promise all Canadians will take care of you in your time of need. Mr. Speaker, those folks in the ivory towers downtown in Yellowknife coming up with these policy maven ideas about how to concur and change the world at the...