Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me begin with a simple question to the House: Raise your hands if anyone likes the idea of higher fuel prices. I didn't think so. I didn't think I'd see a one, Mr. Speaker. Yet today that's exactly what our people are faced with. They're forced to live with these prices as they skyrocket upwards. It's a burden felt at every single kitchen table, every small business, and let me tell you when they're facing the pumps, it doesn't matter if you live in Yellowknife, the Sahtu, or even in the Mackenzie Delta, everyone is feeling the pinch of the pump price, Mr. Speaker.

N...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today because this motion is very important. It strikes at the very heart of how we govern. The issue really before us is how are we supporting and treating our people. And I'm going to -- and I think that we need to move forward and recognize the consequences of inaction because we find ourselves in a crossroads not just in the history of governance but also in the very story of our communities. It is a story that has been long defined by resilience, by the quiet strength of people who know what it means to look out for one another in the face of the vast and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I wish I had friends who thought that money didn't matter, Mr. Speaker. I wish I had a job that paid that much that nobody complained that it didn't hurt their pocketbooks. Mr. Speaker, everywhere I go, I speak to somebody. I was in Hay River two weeks ago. They complained about it. Fort Providence. So, Mr. Speaker, if Wab Kinew can do this, if Doug Ford can do this, why can't the Minister be creative and help the everyday Northerner rather than stand here today and shout out philosophies that won't help the everyday people today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to return to the Minister of Finance to just further drill down about the affordability issues of the fuel tax. And I think most of us are here to improve the lives of Northerners and certainly help them in the crisis of affordability.

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be willing to bring forward emergency legislative amendments to address this gas tax problem where the gas tax numbers are calculated in legislation. And to be clear, Mr. Speaker, I'd be willing to sit a couple extra days, I'd be willing to come back later in June or even July to get something like...

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure where the Minister got their $10. I am not going to say that math is bad. That's the Department of Finance; their math hopefully is good. But I can tell you that my gas on my small vehicle went up almost 40 bucks, so I am not sure where they got -- since the price jump.

Mr. Speaker, is there anything the Minister can do to move this out of legislation into regulation so we can pivot if that becomes the policy discussion of the day to help meet this challenge? Thank you.

First off, I want to recognize, Mr. Speaker, Kayina Garcon. She is my summer student this year. She's actually a returning person helping me at my constituency office. She's in the gallery today, and it's a great pleasure to have her back this year again. She's been doing fantastic working with me. And furthermore, I always like to recognize one of our interpreters Ms. Sarah Cleary. She's so kind and wonderful, and she provides services to us at the Assembly and I am always grateful when I see her. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, brief as I can. But, I mean, I'm not going to come too hard on this. First off, I want to thank the colleagues -- I'll start with the MLA for Range Lake -- for supporting the motion to get it on the floor. And certainly my community colleagues for their support on the initiative, and of course, Yellowknife colleague.

I think it's important to say that this motion wasn't drafted in isolation. I didn't go into a dark room by myself with a pen and crayons to come up with something. I actually used some of the advice I got from the RCMP. I also used some advice that we got from...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you know, I have two motions today. I will begin with one, of course, and do the other one once the second one -- first one's concluded.

Mr. Speaker,

WHEREAS the Northwest Territories continues to experience serious and evolving criminal activity, including violent offences and the growing presence of southern-based criminal gangs, posing a serious threat to the safety and well-being of residents;

AND WHEREAS the interconnected challenges of addictions, limited youth programming, and gaps within the justice system require a coordinated, whole-of-government response...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I think the Minister misses the issue. This is an issue in the pocketbooks of everyone and she can, you know, telegraph great philosophy, but the truth is it's about affordability to the moms, dads, everybody living here going to work.

Mr. Speaker, if the Minister refuses to bring forward emergency amendments, there's another option: The Minister could provide rebates to Northerners and come up with a system. We did it during the wildfires. We could come up with a system. We have very smart people who can figure out what a fair and balanced way to do this. Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, frustrated constituents corner me at the gas station and say this government can give millions of dollars away to diamond companies that are closing, why can't they help me with the direct support.

Mr. Speaker, what can the Minister of Finance do to help people who are watching millions of dollars leave the territory when they feel they need something to help them get by? Thank you.