Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk about the effects of the recent cuts by the federal government and what those effects will have on volunteer NWT as well as the rest of the volunteer sector, Mr. Speaker. This Assembly has recognized the contributions of volunteers and how it plays a significant role in improving our social, economic, cultural, and environmental conditions throughout our North. We are aware of how much they enhance our quality of life in the NWT and they contribute to our economy approximately $50 million, Mr. Speaker.

In March 2005 the Premier signed the GNWT...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I could just get the Minister to reaffirm, I know it's been said a couple times already today, but there was a commitment, I think I understood, that the Minister would bring regulations back to committee for their overall review. I appreciate that commitment; I just want to make sure that it still exists, it's still on the record. If the Minister would mention in his area about possibly tackling the people who refuse to pay their licence. Would it fall under this particular area…Sorry; remit the licence fees, my apologies. Would it fall in this area as he...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today will be about legal aid service levels and how we are meeting those challenges here today, Mr. Speaker. It is no surprise to Members here that I take a serious interest in the Legal Services Board as well as the legal aid issue and service levels. Mr. Speaker, I quickly did a search on those two topics and I came up with about 32 questions since I have been a Member in this House. I didn’t do a search on e-mails or written questions. I have always been about fair and timely service for those people in our society that need it most...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This summer I was here when the Prime Minister had mentioned no pipeline, no deal; and he was referring to resource and self-government, devolution deals. Mr. Speaker, I want to hear the Premier of our Northwest Territories say no deal, no pipeline, because the pipeline has got the attention of the country, the federal government wants it. I’m not opposed to the pipeline by any means, but people want this, the federal government wants this, I want to hear how the Premier is taking offence to this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Members.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, what I’m saying is we need significant movement on this issue. Our citizens have been waiting for it in a timely way. I think the adolescence of the Northwest Territories has grown and we’ve matured and it’s gone. It’s time for Canada to recognize that we have come of age and we deserve the respect, Mr. Speaker. Respect is a two-way street. We offer Ottawa respect every single day. Regardless whether it’s a Conservative government or Liberal government, we give it to them, and it’s time that they recognize we deserve it.

So, Mr...

But let's keep in mind, nice is a balance. I don't want him to be nice in Ottawa, because that means he has to be less nice in the Northwest Territories, because I want him to be nice to our people and be tough on that Prime Minister, Mr. Speaker. Be tough on him. He's not going to cry, okay? I feel that the Prime Minister can shoulder a little criticism and I'd like to hear it from our Premier of saying put…Mr. Speaker, I want the Premier to put his foot down and say well, I can't say the right language in the House, but I can say that the Premier can say it in a nice or less nice way of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to table this document. On October 20, 2006, there was a press release from Yellowknife Education District No. 1. It is titled, YK1’s Metro Huculak Recognized for Exemplary Leadership. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5 on the orders of the day, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is the Education Minister working with the coalition, with the other Education Ministers in this regard to basically knock down the door of Ms. Finley’s and saying what are we going to do to get attention of this issue? Mr. Speaker, what is this Minister doing, for the record to, again, bring highlights to this issue? Is he going to arrange not in a letter, but a full force down there in Ottawa to finally get attention to these literacy cuts? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the first day of session, which was October 17th, I was asking the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment questions about the literacy cuts and what he was doing about it. Mr. Speaker, if I may roughly quote from page 627 of our unedited Hansard, the Minister said he would be hopefully attending this meeting next Tuesday, which would have been yesterday, on the 24th of this month. His meeting was supposed to be with the Council of Ministers of Education. Mr. Speaker, did anyone go on the Minister’s behalf? If they did, what did they say and...