Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There's no bylaws, there apparently is no policy on encampments, and I'm not sure who you're gonna call, but the truth be told is the Minister's being informed there is an urgent potential safety risk there. What is the Minister willing to do under his authority as Minister, and the fire marshal's office falls under your authority, what steps will you take in order to ensure Northerners, Yellowknifers, and those individuals are safe? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

All right, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question -- my set of questions will be for the Minister of MACA, only because he looks like he's lonely over there and wants --

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I heard the Minister about saying I guess if I qualified as income support, people don't have the basic needs so hence it gets covered. My understanding is students probably don't have the basic needs to cover those application tuition fees and hence isn't that similar? So if this is a policy or legislated question, what can the Minister do about closing this particular gap that seems quite clear? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is how would they operate without a policy document? The retired bureaucrat is at a policy walk and they're concerned about applying for things that they may or may not qualify based on best dollar for the government and reasonable services that could be extended. Would it be reasonable to assume there should be a policy document? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I knew the Minister would just say that the money's within the system. But also there's a section called section 18(3), and it talks about where the Minister may provide funding for tuition fees and costs in their discretion, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate it's not mandatory, but it says may. So if we're not meeting the needs of the students to the best of abilities of the school system, can parents pursue these things, because some of them are waiting years to get help. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

They wonder where the education system is under section 7(2). Mr. Speaker, if the schools cannot provide these assessments, can parents do these on their own and seek reimbursement through the department of education? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few parents recently reach out to me, and they talked about the challenges within the education system. Now, it's not a question of the school boards not meeting their needs; it's their inability to actually rise to the necessity. And it's not just these parents, Mr. Speaker; it's dozens upon dozens of parents struggling with these problems, not to mention one could only imagine the depth the problems get into the community. So what am I talking about? Assessments for students, Mr. Speaker.

We have children who are going unassessed. Their learning disabilities...

 -- some support from Members here. Mr. Speaker, I am going to refer to the encampment, the one downtown here, and it's set up on Commissioner's land, and they have fires, open fires, etcetera burning there, and above them are the high wire transmission lines that are feeding into Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, what would it take to initiate an investigation through the fire marshal's office through the department to make sure that they are safe and not putting themselves and Yellowknife at significant risk the way that they're -- the way they're cohabiting in that situation? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the fact that the Minister's willing to go back and share the information, I'll certainly say I appreciate it. Would the Minister be able to tell us how many students have been hit with late fees based on the fact that they've applied on time and funds were not available when they've sought them to pay for their applications? So in other words, some details that back up this particular problem if (audio).

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, October 30th, 2025, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Range Lake, that the Executive Council of the Government of the Northwest Territories name the new 50-unit affordable housing complex on 50th Street in Yellowknife the Anthony (Tony) WJ Whitford Building;

And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories respond to this motion in 120 days.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.