Robert Hawkins

Mr. Speaker, the students have been saying this for years. The instructors at the college have been saying this for years. What will it take from the Minister to finally break through and realize how important this particular option and opportunity is? I’m willing to go get a survey. Does he want 100 names on a petition? Does he want 1,000 names? You tell us what we’ll do and we’ll help him do his job. That’s all I want. Frankly, what does the Minister need from us to help him realize how important this degree program is and we’ll go out and do it. Maybe he can tell us what will make the...

I would kind of like to hear how the Minister wants to create this type of change. He said there was a legislative issue there. The Northwest Territories, through Aurora College, found a way with the teachers, found a way through our nursing program. Why can we find a way through this path?

I’m asking the Minister: What is he willing to do and what can he do to help ensure that the students in the Northwest Territories who want a Social Work Program, a full program, can obtain this opportunity here in the North where they want, in their home, in the North, where they want to do their work in...

Mr. Speaker, March is Aboriginal Languages Month, and as such, I want to show a little respect. [English translation not provided.]

[Translation] The social service workers need more money. [Translation ends]

The budding Social Work Program in the Northwest Territories has been showing great promise, and as such, our two-year program is starting to ask itself, why are we not a four-year program?

In my opinion, the Aurora College program has been doing fantastic work here. It has reached an incredible success, so successful the students want more, the community wants more.

When I talk to the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to rise with some objection to the motion that comes forward because I have some concerns on how the development of the rules and the procedures of the Legislative Assembly have emerged.

By and large, 99.9 percent, I support the initiative that has come forward, but I do have an issue with how the section called Point of Order has been evolved and finally found its, I guess I’ll say, end wording.

It’s my view that under Section 25, and I won’t go through the full detail, but it says when a Member is to raise a point of order they shall cite. My view is they...

I’m going to use the opportunity to remind the Minister that he’s in charge of the legislation and he could move the legislative initiative forward. Once again, as the Minister, clearly he’s aware that this is an option here for the Northwest Territories. Clearly, he’s already said there are discussions going on, and frankly, I want to hear what he is willing to do, because I kind of get tired of how we talk about how we can’t do things. I remember the excitement when we all ran into this building and said how we will do things.

What is the Minister willing to do so we can work towards getting...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s certainly a pleasure to ask questions here today. Although I did some of my Member’s statement in Chip, my questions will not be in Chip. Although I’m sure Mr. Beaulieu helped me very greatly. I want to give him special credit and thanks for that help.

The question I’m going to be raising here today is in my Member’s statement I talked about the importance of the Social Work Program. In the Northwest Territories we have a two-year diploma program, and in order for a student to seek a degree in this particular program, they have to continue the third and fourth year...

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...