Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the staff are unable to meet the demand, what's the solution? Is it to hire more staff, or is it to send samples of the lab techs, what they take, to Edmonton? Can the Minister reveal the solution to this particular problem; because I've got them. I want to hear what the Minister's doing about it. Thank you.

Thank you for that. All surpluses aren't created equal. So have you targeted or defined what type of surplus? You could have, like, a capital surplus, an operational surplus, a surplus for this program, a surplus for that program. I mean, is the expectation that they raid the coffee surplus fund? Like, I mean -- like, is it every single surplus, or has it been defined? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Similar to my colleague, I want to speak about the economy. The Arctic economic security corridor is a red alert, and it needs to be heard loud and clear. I doubt it would have even made the second-tier list of major projects if it wasn't for the West Kitikmeot Resources Group, Mr. Speaker. And I'm very thankful for their work. Currently, it's on the maybe list, but that's pretty good, Mr. Speaker; better than the not list. But if you look closely, it's being sold as a north-to-south list by the West Kitikmeot group.

The Arctic security corridor is sold as an all-weather...

Yeah, thank you. I apologize, I maybe have heard half the answer there. What I'd like to say is maybe -- if I restated the question differently, maybe I'll get the same answer, and that'll be fine too, which is the -- essentially, are they able to bleed coverage? In other words, take more kids on that are non-Indigenous in this regard? So in other words, if a PT specialist through the Jordan's Principal money that we're covering to the extent of what you can find has openings, are they allowed to offer it? Because previously they weren't allowed to extend the services, and that was a --...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think most of my questions largely have been answered by my colleagues here, but I'll just clarify just one point because it sounded like it was folding into the question and folding out of the question, which is even though this is educational assistant money, is some of it intended for Jordan's Principal money in that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate the -- what the chair of the committee's read in thus far. However, some different points of view, and I'll share other Members' points of view.

Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Government Operations (the committee) was tasked with reviewing Bill 26, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act. As a Member of the committee, it is important to note that while I agree with some of the concerns highlighted in committee's report on the review to date of Bill 26, there are several important reasons for preparing a dissenting point of view.

First of all, I...

Mr. Speaker, I'm a little confused on the side versus second tier. It doesn't sound like it's on the list of number one projects, and it's not even the -- doesn't sound clear enough that it's even on the second visiting of this particular project. Can the Minister tell us what will it take to get it as a major -- sorry, the Arctic Economic Security Corridor identified as a major project in this next submission? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not sure I have to walk down to the office; I've already given her the suggestions and she's welcome by the way.

That said, Mr. Speaker, the Minister did go into the other area of where the samples are going. What type of analysis is being taken as to how much are going where, what does it cost, what does it change the process. Because I'm aware that section has requested more staffing. In other words, they put in submissions to increase the staff but someone in the chain of hierarchy keeps denying them the needed staff. And I'm curious as to what the reasoning is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate the willingness of the Minister. If she wants some simple suggestions, chairs, the little tags at the DMV --

Mr. Speaker, the next comment is no reflection of the staff, but it seems like the staff are unable to keep up with the pace and the demand that's there, which is sometimes reality, Mr. Speaker. And the constituents -- last point I'll make -- is they show up there, unlike the DMV they can't take a ticket, some of them can't stand because they're elderly, they're waiting for 35 people for 32 spots. It's quite a depressing experience, Mr. Speaker. So in short, Mr. Speaker, if Stanton has an addiction to deficits, as we all know -- and I have a lot of experience around this -- why doesn't the...