Robert Hawkins

So how did they -- how did it come up with that the lottery is the best or most efficient way of doing this? Noting that it was given a week's notice that they would open it up for applications, 60 were already allocated, in other words unavailable, and the remainder would be open for anybody who were able to put a package together. Was there no consideration to evaluation of impacts of these particular jobs or on positions not being filled? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker; I was worried you missed me.

Mr. Speaker, I guess I'm so old I remember MACA managing the land, so I'll redirect the exact same questions to the Minister of ECC which I'll give him a moment because it looks like he's ready. But I can repeat the question in case he needs me to repeat it. That said, the question was about the block land transfers to municipalities, and I've heard in particular that there's been some challenges in the Yellowknife transfer. Can he bring this House up to speed as to what is being done and what he can do to ensure that we have timely and...

In essence, was the program going to relaunch itself, or did it take some intervention from the Minister to relaunch it?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm wondering if the Minister of MACA could give us an update as to the municipal land transfers that they were supposed to be working on for the last year. I thought that we're only making minor headway in some places, in particular Yellowknife. What is actually happening with block land transfers? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. As to what actions or commitments has the Minister made to these organizations? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, it has the appearance of being a political appointment as more of a reward rather than a discussion. Is there any reason the Premier changing significant motions by basically allocating public service resources to an Ottawa position -- why wouldn't he bring it to MLAs through the Caucus process to have a discussion and get a mandate from Caucus and the Assembly at large? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the reason I ask for a meeting of the minds so one-off deals aren't happening, Mr. Speaker, or some daycares are being told what they want to hear but then another being told elsewhere.

Mr. Speaker, in short, they're losing employees because the grid is controlling their funding and the daycares are facing closure, probably by summer. I had asked three of them, and they were saying that's the right timeframe; we're going to run out of money. So, Mr. Speaker, when programs are being cut, outings are being cut, food is being cut, what can the Minister do to stop that tragedy? Thank...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Raising the childcare issue is an interesting one, especially because we're getting e-mails real time here at the desk.

Mr. Speaker, my question back to the Minister is what -- or sorry, my question to the Minister with respect to the overall bigger picture of the issue here is what type of ability does the Minister have to reset the wage grids within the regulations as currently designed? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I'm asking the Minister would she convene an immediate meeting and host a discussion with them about trying to solve their financial challenges, because right now they cannot afford to keep their doors open any longer, people are turning jobs down in the Northwest Territories because they know there are no spots, and they're losing employees to other jobs because they cannot pay them outside of the wage grid. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister call for an immediate discussion with these people? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First I want to start off by recognizing the Mildred Hall pages. Mildred Hall is the school in the downtown of Yellowknife, and it's a wonderful school. I send both of my kids there. And the attendees of our pages from that school today are Jackson Gorman and Tyrell Cook-Gargan is a constituent of mine. As well as I'll follow the Member from Deh Cho's lead, I wish to also recognize one particular translator. She happens to be my favorite, and coincidentally a constituent, so I'm not saying that they're tied together, but Ms. Sarah Cleary. She is one of my favorite...