Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll read this one through. The interpreters have already heard it, so.

WHEREAS the sergeant-at-arms of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Floyd Andrew Powder, has indicated his intention to retire from the position;

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to name an individual to fill the position of sergeant-at-arms;

AND WHEREAS Section 54(3) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act provides that the sergeant-at-arms shall be appointed by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories on the recommendation of the board of management, approved by motion of the Legislative...

It seems that we're always both to blame.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, October 30th, 2024, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Mr. Chris Comeau of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, be recommended for appointment as sergeant-at-arms of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories as recommended by the board of management of the Legislative Assembly;.

And further -- sorry, I was trying to speak slow enough for the interpreters.

And further, that the Speaker be authorized to communicate...

Mr. Speaker, I'm glad he and I share the same point of view of welcoming and respecting their points of view. It's critical. Mr. Speaker, if he does so, as he just said, would he find ways to work with his department to help fund this group and a territorial advisory group? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is we do not have someone of that type of caliber in our system. Can the Minister confirm we have no one of that credentials of being a public health administrator or a PhD level person running the management of these types of authorities in our system currently today? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to rise on a point of personal explanation under section 1.8(1) of our rules. It says a Member may rise -- or sorry, raise a point of personal explanation in the Assembly at the earliest opportunity. This is my first opportunity.

The headline in the front page of today's Northern News Services, the Yellowknifer, reads as follows: YK Centre MLA wants finance Minister ousted. The headline is misleading with their word choice of "ousted". It leads the reading with the confusing impression that I want the Minister removed from Cabinet. I know this because a few people...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've been made aware that it's close to five or six doctors have either left or just recently have given their notice of leaving. I'd like that to be confirmed with respect to the numbers I've asked a few moments ago. Is the Minister aware of this, and what is she doing about it? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that answer from the Minister, but when the doctors are suggesting to open up the CT scan that -- system and creating avenues to help patient care and expedite it in the sense of service and save money, it's going on deaf ears. So what next if no one seems to care about the advice and direction offered by doctors, especially our primary care doctors? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just quickly, another clinic in town here, you can dial in and get your records through the internet obviously. I'm old. I say dial, but stream. Mr. Speaker, the dental clinic does phone follow-ups and check-ins, Mr. Speaker. Why is the technology so available, Mr. Speaker? I want to know what the Minister is doing, what -- I want to know what the serious blockage is, why a dental office can do services the health care system can't do, why a local medical clinic can do services, again a billion-dollar department can't seem to manage. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, around the concerns of accessibility, when a person gets through or doesn't get through, they finally just show up and find out they can't get appointments for weeks or months. Mr. Speaker, what is the Minister doing again about in-person now accessibility to see a doctor? Thank you.