Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight met on May 2, 2006, to review the 2004-2005 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. The committee would like to thank the Commissioner, Ms. Elaine Keenan-Bengts, for her report and for her appearance before the committee.

The NWT’s Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (ATIPP) came into force on December 31, 1996. The purpose of the act is to make public bodies more accountable and to protect personal privacy by giving the public a right of access, with limited exceptions, to records...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this year I talked about the need for citizen judges here in the Northwest Territories. In Yellowknife there’s an annual tradition; on July 1st we have new Canadians sworn in, but through further investigation I found out that there are only 19 citizenship judges across Canada and recently I found out that we won’t be having our citizenship ceremony here on July 1st, which has become quite a tradition here in Yellowknife. I’d like to know what the Minister is doing to investigate this problem about us not having swearing in ceremonies July 1st. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement was about the denial of what I would call natural justice. I have called into question a regulation that is in writing that our bureaucrats are following. Mr. Speaker, just because it is in writing, it doesn’t make it morally correct. Could the Minister of EC and E explain to this House today and the public that is listening about the fairness of the policy where, at no fault of the client, they have been denied their rightful support payments? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We’re still missing the results of the policy, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we’re still talking about the Energy Strategy. We’re talking about hot potatoeing it. Where is the leadership from this government that says energy policy, the policy that says we’ll do things smart, we’re setting up programs? We’re talking about a strategy, we’re throwing it away and saying go to the Arctic Energy Alliance, we’re saying we’re marrying many things, but yet at the end of the day where is the policy that says this government will set up programs to help the average Northwest Territories citizen? Thank...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the Minister hot potatoed that right over to the Arctic Energy Alliance. Maybe I am wasting my time asking ENR questions and I should march down to Arctic Energy Alliance about their support. But, Mr. Speaker, this is about a lack of policy. This is about a lack of programs. This is about the lack of attention about who’s in the driver’s seat about this problem because if the ENR Minister isn’t willing to do anything about this, I’m going to ask him who will. So, Mr. Speaker, where is the policy to set up support programs so local folks, the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. As I said just a moment ago, this territory is truly an amazing place and its residents deserve innovation from our government and definitely need a reward program that encourages innovation. Mr. Speaker, we need creative thinking and we need it now. I will continue to do my job by challenging the ENR Minister to look out for the best interests of our constituents and our people and to safeguard our future. So later today, Mr. Speaker, I will have thought-provoking questions, which I’m sure the Minister already knows we have a problem out there...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now we’re starting to drill down to real answers and real responses. Thank you, Minister. Okay, so the fact is we’re now talking about an energy strategy. So recognizing the feds are cutting some of these energy dollars that go out to help real people and now that we’re down to the fact that we need the Energy and Natural Resources Minister to set up programs and policies, where are our policies to help these average people who are building houses who want to tap into energy smart technology? Where is the policy? Are we playing Where's Waldo here? Where is the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe we have a real problem here and I think the ENR Minister can solve it by doing something today. My optimism tells me he’s got the leadership and wherewithal, so let’s settle it today by making a clear statement by supporting innovative programs out there. Mr. Speaker, we have real problems so we need real solutions. So where is the policy to support innovative programs for energy saving conservation investments in our Northwest Territories and in our people? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my job to challenge the government in order to encourage them to provide the highest quality of life for our people that we represent. Today I wish to speak about the lack of innovation by this government and the lack of encouragement it is offering our local northern innovators. The Association for the Study of Peak Oil points out that we are on the verge of a massive global oil shortage which will result in the skyrocketing oil prices some day soon. But thankfully, Mr. Speaker, the sky isn’t falling today. Although imagine what that will do to a territory that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now we’re starting to drill down to real answers and real responses. Thank you, Minister. Okay, so the fact is we’re now talking about an energy strategy. So recognizing the feds are cutting some of these energy dollars that go out to help real people and now that we’re down to the fact that we need the Energy and Natural Resources Minister to set up programs and policies, where are our policies to help these average people who are building houses who want to tap into energy smart technology? Where is the policy? Are we playing Where's Waldo here? Where is the...