Robert Hawkins

Yeah, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think for those that do pay attention to this, they should -- just wanted to provide a quick comment. Although it was -- in my view, it wasn't quite mentioned by the Minister -- it was in some ways, but it's just a molding of multiple Acts, problems together, and it's not a technical change in the context of anything really -- changes in the system. And hence, this is just a bringing it together in a consistent form. So in other words, not -- even though technically Bill 33 is a new law but there's no new law or new grounds being broken, and I think...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a written question with respect to medical travel, escort policies, eligibility, and appeals.

Ensuring fairness and consistency in medical travel requires clear escort policies, accurate eligibility assessment, and a transparent appeal process. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

Can the Minister provide the total cost from last fiscal year related to non-medical escorts?

How many cases in the past fiscal year involved patients who met the criteria for a medical escort but did not receive one either due to administrative errors, capacity...

As I am sure the Minister is aware, Supreme Court judges can hear all matters but territorial judges must stay in their lane, Mr. Speaker. This is an expense saved on the Nunavut taxpayer, which is a direct comparison, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister investigate this potential huge financial savings on the territorial taxpayer? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions will be framed around the theme of cost of living that I brought up in my Member's statement.

Can the Premier clearly outline what new concrete actions this government has taken since assuming office in late 2023 that have resulted in measurable reductions to the cost of living for residents across the NWT, and where can we specifically see that in a transparent form? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For most Northerners, the cost of living isn't just a challenge; it's actually a crisis. It's a financial impossibility some days from the grocery aisle to the heating bills. Mr. Speaker, Northerners clearly shoulder some of the heaviest burdens across Canada, and I think people are getting tired of the tried-and-true excuses of inaction when it comes to geography and climate change as the backstop of why inaction seems to happen.

Mr. Speaker, since 2023, this government has talked extensively about its affordability challenges, and yet residents are still asking. Show...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Bill 33, Technical Safety Statutes Amendment Act, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on October 30, 2025, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment for its thorough review.

Mr. Chairman, on February 10th, 2026, the standing committee held a public hearing with the Minister of Infrastructure and completed its clause-by-clause review of the bill. The committee received no submissions on the bill from the public or thereabouts.

Mr. Chairman, in closing, I want to thank the committee members for their robust and...

He's quickly becoming my favourite justice Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I recall, just to be clear, the last time this was reviewed or kicked around, it was about a $5 million savings to the territorial taxpayer. So my question now is would the Minister agree to consider the opportunity to implement this approach if it boils down to administrative process and minor tweaks to territorial legislation to accommodate this necessity, an opportunity to save money on the territorial taxpayer? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, continuing on the cost-of-living theme on Northerners, and certainly steps the government could do, my questions are now targeted to the Minister of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, is the Minister familiar with the study and assessment that has been done at the Department of Justice with respect to territorial judges being elevated to the Supreme Court bench which would be a direct cost savings to the territorial taxpayer where the federal government would pick up that cost. In other words, eliminate territorial judges and make them all Supreme Court judges. Thank you...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just briefly, even with the benefit of spectacles age is creeping up on me, it's hard for me to make faces out in the gallery, but to that I want to say to my friends up there in the -- the new ones and the old friends, my kindest regards. But, Mr. Speaker, I do know recognizing Indigenous Language Month that my favourite interpreter, Ms. Sarah Cleary, is here today and I want to say a shout-out to her. I always try to say hi to her because she's one of my fondest friends. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to raise a serious topic here just to ensure that everyone's aware. Just after lunch I was sent a letter from a parent from one of the schools in -- I guess it is public now. It's -- but one of the schools of Yellowknife. And I guess there is now a story up. It's with respect to a hold and secure situation. And I was trying to exercise caution before I brought this up now that it's a public story, Mr. Speaker. So my questions will be focused to, obviously, the education Minister, noting it's a school.

Mr. Speaker, in essence, the question is really about how...