Robert Hawkins

Mr. Speaker, we all know housing opportunities don't runneth over. So in other words, there's not an oversupply in housing opportunities certainly here in the capital or even in the regions and small communities. Mr. Speaker, what was the delay specifically as to get this initiative off the ground and into the construction phase? Because the last major report we had on this was through the Premier's office where they were trying to evict the squatting tenants, as they say, so they could start construction. So can we find out what the delay was. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the Assembly -- if I said "Assembly", I want to make sure I was clear, I meant the sitting just so we're on the record. If the Minister meant the Assembly in two and a half years, I think, you know, that's the definition of bureaucracy in the sense of -- Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit to bringing back a decision and direction before the end of this sitting? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we have a lot of buildings. I'm not here to go through them all; maybe we didn't name the Legislative Assembly, but we have the Joe Tobie Building, we have the Arthur Laing Building, etcetera, etcetera. We even had the Jan Stirling Building, and she was alive at the time it was named in her honour.

Mr. Speaker, I'm asking the Minister to show some courage, some fortitude on this one, and just make a decision today and say I will find a way to get this done, that we honour our former Commissioner in that type of method such as naming a building, either new or renewed, in his honour...

Well, first of all, Mr. Speaker, this is the first time I've heard of this Cabinet team that's been selling this. I've not seen in one year any result to that. Hence I'll ask the question, would the Premier be willing to form a working group with some Regular Members so we can help push this initiative collectively and territorially so we don't miss this billion dollar opportunity. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, Ekati's been in business approximately 25 years. They're proposing they could be here another 25 to 2040. They hire at least 350 Northerners, according to their letter, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's not attracting them. It's trying to find ways to keep them here in the North working and employing as well as the endless contributions to communities and community governments or organizations.

Mr. Speaker, does the Premier see the significance of this partner in their economic future? And if he doesn't, does he have another alternative? Because mining cannot easily be replaced...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my oral questions, I pointed out my view of what a dashboard should look like. The Minister's correct in the context that she said there was a dashboard on the ECC website. I'm tabling an example of what I would like to see as -- for consideration for her and the Aurora College board so everyone knows exactly where I was coming from. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement today, I talked about the Burgundy letter, and if I remember correctly, I think I even read somewhere that the Premier had reached out or had some conversation with them. And if I'm incorrect on that understanding, I would hope that the Premier would clarify. But that said, what has the Premier done in response to the open letter Burgundy has written, I guess the Government of the Northwest Territories, about trying to be a partner in the longer-term solution of our economic viability as a territory? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of privilege under section 1.7(1)(e) of our rules.

Mr. Speaker, the specific privilege is, for the benefit of the Members is, it says privilege of a Member includes, section (c), freedom of obstruction and intimidation in relation to their duties as an elected representative.

Mr. Speaker, while during the break I was walking to my office, I was confronted by the Member for Yellowknife North. She said, I know you're mad at me. I interjected and I said, I'm not mad. She continued to say, I would never be that petty to nay your consent.

Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Burgundy recently released a letter which some could say was completely unfortunate on their approach. They could have gone about this a little bit differently. The criticism they received was basically targeted at the author. They viewed it as a large business wanting their way, and they attacked them on their pocketbook. But what was ignored is the message within the letter. Here was a bell being rung by an industry partner that underpins our economy and who's saying we have a path for economic opportunity for the next 25 years.

Mr. Speaker, they are saying we...

Again, I view this issue as a territorial issue. And I can appreciate the stress of my colleagues outside of Yellowknife that may view it from their point of view. It is a territorial institution to help grow the North, Mr. Speaker. So I guess maybe my next question is built around a dashboard question.

Can the Minister request that Aurora College develop a dashboard on their website to communicate the steps of the transition, be it the elements of what it means, how they process it, and that way the public has been idea. Because, frankly, Mr. Speaker, Northerners think this initiative's...