Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I was to look for a line on medical travel, is this the only funding source area that I would search out or is it listed in any other line somewhere within the government?

Just one last question, I believe, on this particular area. Would we be considered part of the norm or would we be considered part of the generous group? So in other words, is this consistent amongst pretty much every other jurisdiction or is this considered maybe over and above services that we offer just to keep them coming to the North, which isn’t as common in other areas? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Have there been any consultant reports generated thus far, and can they be shared with committee Members like myself?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Under infrastructure planning, I’m curious as to the detail, if the Minister can explain the infrastructure planning that falls with the Stanton Territorial Hospital. What money is involved? What money is being seeded into that master plan development and when can we start to see some details of that?

Now is another fine example of divide and conquer. Urban versus rural, committee versus process. Maybe the Premier, being such a maven when it comes to court space and experience, maybe you can explain why the existing courthouse, in its existing form, works and meets the needs of health and safety of our employees as well as, as I mentioned earlier, those accused, those victims and those witnesses when we’re working on their initiatives for the people.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about the need for a new territorial courthouse. Needs have certainly changed, but the space has not. You can only reorganize the existing courthouse so many times before it becomes unpalatable. I just want to say two more things, which is, the courthouse as it exists now doesn’t flow nicely when you consider the responsibility and sensitivity needed towards sexual assault victims where sometimes accused, the victims and the witnesses are all huddled together in the same area. It just makes it unpalatable.

The last thing I want to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Fifteen years ago a study said that it was time to build a new courthouse in the NWT because the needs of the population had certainly increased. It would be cheaper, the study said, and more effective for the people who need the services, rather than continue to sink money into the existing building. The needs have not kept pace with modern times. Even Nunavut and Yukon have independent courthouses. When is it time that the Northwest Territories get its own independent courthouse?

If you don’t believe me, believe our Public Works. Two feasibility studies were led by our...

I was going to leave it but I think I heard a good question on the side here. Wouldn’t it be proprietary information for us?

What does the Minister have by way of information that he can share with Members, such as myself, with regard to the $2 million that would have been spent by this March 31st? I’m trying to see what project development, what’s guiding information, planning documents, trying to get a sense of it. At the same time, the other additional question is: Who is doing this work?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Where else would you do capital planning and discussion other than asking questions in the Assembly? What is the problem that’s holding this particular issue back? Is it because it’s an investment in the city of Yellowknife, or is it because the Premier has other ambitions or obligations that he is afraid to meet and cause conflict with this idea?