Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, my question is in regards to the concerns I was raising last week, which was Canada’s involvement with the missile defence program specifically with the United States, and my questions were directed to the Premier during question period at that time. I can refer to the page and whatnot but, just in a brief summary, I was asking about our involvement and where is our policy and what are we doing about it. The last item mentioned in a return to my question by the Premier was basically this issue would be brought up with his meeting with the Prime Minister...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise again to follow up on some of my questions to the Premier last week; that was Friday, October 22nd. I had asked the Premier many questions in regard to my concerns about Canada’s involvement with the missile defence program. Mr. Speaker, briefly I asked him to bring forward a policy that does not exist for a position that does not exist to the Prime Minister’s view. If I may quote on page 2131 of unedited Hansard referring to Question 288-15(3), the Premier is quoted as saying “I’ve already made that request to the Prime Minister in earlier discussions. I am...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister knows I have a lot of respect for him but, Mr. Speaker, I think we’re losing the point and losing sight of this issue. When he talks about annual basis, we didn’t foresee this in March of this year. We didn’t foresee this when the business plans were being built a year ago that oil prices would practically double, Mr. Speaker. I need to hear that we’re doing this on a proactive rather reactive basis, Mr. Speaker. I need a commitment that this Minister will take a proactive position rather than paying the bills long after the energy has been...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question will be to the Minister of FMBS, the Honourable Mr. Roland. Mr. Speaker, my concern is we need an attitude change out there because of the high cost of fuel. What is our government doing to monitor the consumption of energy, referring to both power, as well as fuel oil with respect to GNWT assets? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I am very concerned about the world oil prices and how they can effect and cause crises elsewhere in the world. Mr. Speaker, years ago we could not assume what happened somewhere else would have an effect locally. One hundred years ago, you know, the perspective on the world was much different; 50 years ago it was much different; and even this summer oil prices were much different and we never would have thought that they would have a link.

Mr. Speaker, today what happens in Iraq and Venezuela has an effect in the Northwest...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to say clearly I will grudgingly vote in favour of this bill. I am disappointed because if we vote in favour, it goes through without any serious objection, unfortunately. If we vote against it, we create ripples that are difficult to see at this time. Will they still charge forward? I have no doubt, so I have to vote in favour of it because I feel like my hands are tied.

I can’t see that far in the future, so I don’t know what will happen if we don’t. I feel left out of the process, so what do I do? Do I vote against it just because I feel left out of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll say thank you, Mr. Minister, for that commitment. Mr. Speaker, I’ll ask for one more commitment from the Minister responsible for Housing in which he did refer to private industry being able to access a pot of funds or a pot of money in order to allow social housing to happen in private buildings. Will he commit to investigate the possibility of applying that policy to anyone who accesses this funding to have those folks in their buildings? Will he commit to seeing that that policy can apply to them as well as in the private industry? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate what the Minister is saying about 194 people in our housing. Mr. Speaker, what I’m looking for is a firm commitment on national guidelines, something that is clear cut. Can the Minister commit today that his department will create a policy, be it a booklet or whatever, on national standards and this can be applied to all of our social housing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise again to speak about my concerns about the territorial government not having a formal policy in dealing with social housing with people with disabilities. Mr. Speaker, I happened to go back to the transcripts and I noted that for some reason that slipped through my fingers during question period, and so I will be raising that concern with much stronger diligence this time.

Mr. Speaker, I had asked the Minister at that time about where our policy is, and I still don’t see us having a policy and I’m afraid that got missed. So, Mr. Speaker, I have to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I totally support this motion. I just want to make a couple of quick comments. First of all, I find it really heartening that we have a clause in there that points out about disabilities and independent living. Mr. Speaker, I would like to see that this government takes a strong, firm grip on the type of policy that helps enable our people in healthy living conditions.

Mr. Speaker, I truly believe housing is a critical issue out there. It’s a basic need. Tom Jackson, the famous singer, once said, you know, if there’s no house, life doesn’t really matter. He...