Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I begin, I want to thank the good folks at the NWT Bureau of Stats. They’re a very important pillar of our government because they provide very important information each and every day to folks like me so I can do my job.

Because of that very important information, I can see that 35 people left the NWT last year when I compare the final quarter of 2013 against 2014. That really comes down to one person in the Northwest Territories left every 10 days. That’s a net loss. We’re losing transfer payments. That’s an additional $25,000 per person walking out of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to table, for the public’s interest, a copy of a private member’s bill I would eventually like to read into this House. It is An Act to Amend the Mental Health Act and it’s pretty self-explanatory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I understand, and some days I like to think I’m reasonable in the area of things happening.

Can the Premier explain why it’s taken this long to address this matter that was directed by the House? Was there a technical issue? I didn’t quite understand the confusion part he was referring to when he gave his first answer about different directions. If we could get a clear answer about why it took this long, thank you.

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. Is the change in cost just strictly focusing on the benefits, or has there been any change in the format of how security has been provided?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister says he’s not challenging them. It sort of sounds like they are accepting the results the government has received of the barely passing mark of D minus. A D minus is a reflection of the department, its leadership and its management, and I would like to hear how this government is going to change this D minus mark and turn it into an action plan that delivers results specific to the areas targeted and identified by the Conference Board of Canada.

May I remind this House, this is an organization that has been in Canada for 61 years providing good advice, non...

I would kind of like to hear the answer whether the department either disputes the findings of the Conference Board of Canada or accepts them. If they dispute them, I think Northerners need to know what areas they are disputing and they also need to know the truth of the matter.

Does the department accept the fact that it has received a D minus, which is barely a pass? Thank you.

My final question is I’m curious as to what the Minister’s briefing note will read as to engagement on a pan-territorial strategy as to improve the D minus across the three territories as we work towards a partnership for improving Aboriginal health and the health of all Northerners across the NWT and our two sister territories.