Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS section 16.(2) of the Human Rights Act provides that the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission is comprised of such members, between three and five in number as may be appointed by the Commissioner on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS there will be three vacancies on the NWT Human Rights Commission as of June 8, 2024;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that the Legislative Assembly recommend the reappointment of the following individuals to the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission:

Ms...

Yes, I'll take that. Is it lengthy? Because then it makes it difficult to ask my next question. But I'll take it as well in paper. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we all know, questions are to illuminate information, probe concerns, and chase down individual details, and there's a reasonable expectation that certain information cannot be at the tip of the Ministers' fingers. So, Mr. Speaker, I just want to clarify one more time on the record, is there any type of informal impression that the government will take if a Member -- not informal -- or actually now I'm trying to qualify this in a way -- is there any sort of backlash or negative response or attitude from the government if a Member chooses not to proceed that --...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NGOs out there are the real super heros. They may not wear capes or have special rings, they don't fly invisible jets, but they are a beacon of hope. Sometimes they're the only light out there in the dark.

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to taking responsibilities, the government doesn't want to get its hands dirty, who does it call? An NGO, Mr. Speaker.

Now, we shouldn't view NGOs as they continually be as the agency of last report. Take the Yellowknife Sobering Centre, Mr. Speaker. When it was ran by an NGO, they were capped at under $800,000 a year. When...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For sake of time and energy, of course I won't run through all the comments highlighted earlier today by a few of the previous speakers here. But the truth be told is, you know, we talk about these challenges at Justice, and I can tell you being the Member for the downtown riding, it is stressful for many people. And so whether you live on the edge on one side of it or closer to the Ruth Inch Pool or you live on the other side towards the Salvation Army area, I mean, it just seems to be one of the most interesting catchall areas from one end to the other. And by the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Not specific in the context of this current budget, although that sort of is the answer, but I'm not questioning the current budget, but what is the program funded with? Where do we get our funding and how much do we fund on this?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For something completely different, we'll like the Maytag repair man, we'll go to questions to the Minister of ECC I guess. He doesn't get a lot of questions. We'll give him a chance today.

So, Mr. Speaker, my question for him today is about the Guardians of the Land. Could he describe what the program is, where it is, and how much it's being supported in the Northwest Territories when he describes what it is. Thank you.

The reason I say sound is because if I understand it correctly, although I'm not a lawyer, but you're not allowed to record unsuspecting peoples' conversations, etcetera. So that's why I'm saying without the sound piece, just to be so I go back to the question, is the Minister aware of any video cameras providing security on any NWT assets? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are directed to the Minister of Infrastructure, and it's about security. What does the Department of Infrastructure have any policies built around security of buildings for staff and clients? Thank you.

Actually, you know, it's fine. I'm comfortable with taking the context of fiction away. I don't feel like I want to tie Assembly time up so I withdraw the point of fiction, and basically, I'm back to the point I'll withdraw it, but I'll say are they using facts or creativity to make these decisions? Thank you.