Robert Hawkins

Thank you. I'll take that olive branch, Mr. Speaker, because safety matters.

Mr. Speaker, the last piece I'll take and ask -- or sorry, the last piece I'll ask in this particular case, again speaks to my Member's statement, which is what are they going to do in recognition that you are the lead Minister on this homelessness issue to ensure that these encampments are inspected, people are safe, and we don't have another fire?

And lastly, Mr. Speaker, this was right next to a pile of propane tanks and I even heard that one went off. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to go back to my Member statement where I talked about the housing policy and concerns lack thereof. It was built on my statement even as of yesterday and given the circumstances.

Mr. Speaker, why don't we start with a softball. Has anything I have said today resonated in a manner that the Minister is willing to go back and see if we can accelerate the encampment policy to ensure people are safe and whatnot, because I really know she's got a great shop there and they could do this without waiting to the spring of 2026. So did that hit a tone of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with respect to inspections, it sounds like they don't happen, or they may happen sparsely. We've now had two encampment problems that had serious fires, and recently, as I pointed out, even today I saw piles of propane tanks. What does it take to have daily inspections from this department to ensure that they're safe on public lands, to make sure that they meet the guidelines highlighted in the press release on May 25th? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, colleagues.

WHEREAS section 61 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act permits the appointment of the Information and Privacy Commissioner by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories after the approval of the appointment by resolution of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly considers the appointment of an Information and Privacy Commissioner essential to exercise the powers and perform the duties under the Act;

AND WHEREAS the term of the Information and Privacy Commissioner is expiring;

AND WHEREAS the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, October 23rd, 2025, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that pursuant to section 61 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, that Mr. Andrew Fox be reappointed for a term of five years as Information and Privacy Commissioner;

And further, that the appointment be effective November 23rd, 2025.

And, Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Health and Social Services here. I received a phone call a few days back about somebody being released in the care of one of the wards, the psych wards, here in Yellowknife. Now, it's not specific about this individual but the concern about the care of custody back into the community, and the parent who called me about this issue is that they said when their child is released, they're literally dropped off at the day shelter. So, they go from full services and supports, clearly, I mean, I won't go at length, but what...

Mr. Speaker, we'll have lawyers saying we have a government obligation to do something. We have lay people that say that that's untrue. We have technocrats that say it's somewhere in the middle, Mr. Speaker. Why are we waiting to come forward with a policy that would make most of this at least follow a consistent direction? And I think that's usually where I stand at the beginning, which is we need some level of consistency, and we can bleed fairness and whatever necessary into the mix. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, in a multi-function building or multi-unit building, you can't have one smoker and one non-smoker right next to each other through airness.

Mr. Speaker, what will the department of health do in order to step this up to support these people? I believe the carrot to stick approach, no smoking is the new rule. Can she be very clear on how the full weight of the department of health is going to come in there and support individuals who have smoked for years, if not generations, Mr. Speaker, because we can't leave them hanging, but the workers in there need this protection as well...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My first question will be to the Minister of Health and Social Services today and, of course, I hope I have time for other Ministers to enjoy a great and fun question period. Mr. Speaker, my question is the challenge about housing. Now, believe it or not, this is a health issue.

So I was visiting constituents at a public housing place last week, and the smoke in this multi-unit was so difficult to breathe, I thought I was actually chewing it. It was that thick and disgusting. And my understanding is housing won't declare these public housing units non-smoking or they...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice earlier today. Thank you.