Robert Hawkins

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.

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. Speaker. Recently, I was speaking to Bob Zimmer. He's the MP in northern BC He's also the Conservative critic for northern affairs, and the conversation was really interesting. I asked MP Zimmer, are you familiar with the Premier's buddy, you know, that senior envoy in Ottawa who is a self-proclaimed Ottawa expert, insider, knows everything. He said, in short, who? Mr. Speaker, when I asked some more questions, he goes well, I've heard of the guy, and he said he's been unable to reach him. He doesn't even know how to get ahold of him. Mr. Speaker, he did say eventually he did...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The parent that sent this to me is concerned about the trauma and support for the students, including the staff, by all means. And, lastly, Mr. Speaker, protocol review would identify systemic failures, prevention of data analysis, resource allocation, and certainly back to the mental health issue, Mr. Speaker. That's the type of issue. Could the Minister look at a protocol review on what happened at this particular incident? 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...

Now, Mr. Speaker, there are a whole suite of services when it comes to specialists. I am just going to call them specialists. So what type of analysis specifically are we doing? So in other words, have they done business case analysis studying about bringing these types of specialists to the Northwest Territories to run clinics here? And if that's the case, can the Minister share that with people like me? Furthermore, if it isn't the case, would she just say that? Thank you.