Robert Hawkins

I’d like to recognize Jenny Bruce in the gallery, as well as Jerry Lapierre. As we all know, Jerry is a well-known volunteer for auctioneering. He does the Celebrity Auction, the Rotary Bike Auction, and the Ducks Unlimited Auction, as well as many others. Just one last point; a lot of people say that he contributes quite generously on this thing and he doesn’t get enough credit for his community contribution for auctioneering in our city.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and have Committee Report 8-16(3) moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 12.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Would the Minister be willing to supply that information provided through that cost-benefit analysis that was committed back in 2006 to be done, that would establish a view of establishing a long-term, permanent campus here in Yellowknife that’s independent?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The need for an independent and permanent Yellowknife Campus for Aurora College has been an issue that’s long overdue in our city. It’s a demand and something that people want. I’d like to reference the Slave River Journal, our fine Premier just the other day, it says that a northern university is something that needs to be looked at. I can reference the Globe and Mail, our Excellency Michaelle Jean said forcefully that we need a northern university. Even going back to 2006, the Minister of ECE said he will do a cost-benefit analysis to constructing a new college campus...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk to Members about a relevant issue that happened two weeks ago in the New Brunswick Legislature. It all started when a retired school administrator, Frank Taylor, was forced to borrow $35,000 after he was diagnosed with cancer. The drug he needs is not covered by the provincial medical plan. Mr. Taylor collected almost 7,500 names on a petition, but when the Conservative health critic presented the petition to the Legislature, the acting Speaker was forced to reject it. The reason for the rejection was that more than 4,000 names were collected on...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and have Committee Report 5-16(3) moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Mr. Speaker, my constituent is a loyal listener of the Legislative Assembly proceeding and I can tell you they’re probably watching right now. Mr. Speaker, so he’ll be very pleased with that brief an answer.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, you know, I’m glad to hear it’s going to work out, from the sounds of what the Minister had to say, but sometimes it has to be approved up front and I am suggesting we create a process where we inform people up front that if they want the choice of independence, they can have that and make it on their own or if they want the choice to submit receipts, they have...

The Minister said this issue is raised every time he meets with the board of governors and he’s certainly said that this is a long-term plan of, I assume, his department or the focus of this government. What exactly is the long-term plan and what is his response to the board of governors in reflection of that long-term plan about establishing an independent campus here in Yellowknife on its own property and its own facility to help our students?

I appreciate the Minister for answering every question, but the one I asked is: Where is the cost-benefit analysis on the process of looking at putting the Aurora College that’s downtown on its own independent campus to establish itself in its own right?