Robert Hawkins

Yeah, no, no, I'll withdraw that last thing I insinuated. I'm not sure of the exact wording, but I think we all understand that I must have said something of some minor content, and I'm willing to -- I'm really just trying to say I don't know exactly the wording, but I do understand the intent the Member had raised and I respect that calling our -- and I'm not going to parry that with another point of order, just so we can move on. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'll begin with saying that I hear the Member or, in this case, the chair of the committee. The problem with using the Bill 3 example is it was done in error, and it -- but more importantly is even the extended examples as you provided which I can see it as a real example, but the problem is in both cases, they were treated with unanimity, so everyone was in agreement, and sometimes that's the best way to look at something. But there wasn't unanimity in this particular case.

Mr. Speaker, the other thing is that whether reciting one example or two examples...

Thank you, sir. And what important representation it is, may I point out.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to talk about how important this motion is to Avens but, in fairness, the motion is also important to all territorial partners that help ensure Northerners were well cared for during the 2023 evacuation. Let us not forget the important role that NGOs play in service to our northern people, our government, and any institution that they collaborate with. They are key partners to our northern success.

What an experience, Mr. Speaker. Like no others, you know very well yourself more than 50 percent of the...

It can happen to anyone, Mr. Speaker. And even twice a day. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to read a motion.

WHEREAS Avens is a care community for elders and seniors based in Yellowknife that provides long-term care services for residents under contract with the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA);

AND WHEREAS in August 2023, when the city of Yellowknife was under evacuation order, Avens was forced to evacuate 57 vulnerable residents, including some from long-term care facilities in Hay River and Fort Smith who were selected by the Government of the Northwest Territories...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wouldn't call that esoteric but there was some interesting -- I didn't follow any of that language other than there's a timeline, we're meeting the timeline, and the timeline's on time. I mean, you know, what public information can be delivered in this House today as to where or what we can expect? In other words, have they met all their qualifications to now transition formally into a polytech? Are they doing a public announcement in the next six months or three months that they will be talking about the next phase such as how do they fully transition...

Mr. Speaker, I'm referring to something outside government, and how I'll frame it this way very quickly is a person in the industry said they're not doing this, and they're a well-known person in the industry. They talk about the disconnect between the NWT geological society -- or survey, sorry, and industry on hand. They used to have regular meetings, Mr. Speaker. It's that kind of relationship outside of government.

So, Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be willing to sit down and talk about that and find a way to bring back an independent panel to be able to make recommendations because our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, joining the semi-mini theme day, Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about the economy and more particular, I want to speak about the mining issue.

Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement I pointed out that the benefit of an independent sort of mining committee to review, we could convene a three-person or four-person blue chip panel and bring back Bob, you know, our guy who knows his stuff, who called the red alert, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister be willing to do that, create a panel of people who have specialized expertise, could say what are the issues they foresee in our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to join my colleagues on this mini-theme day regarding the economy. But first I'm going to set the table.

Mr. Speaker, some of us, Mr. Testart and I in particular, have asked the government to prorogue. And the reason we do proroguing is to reset the government's refocus and align its mandates. Mr. Speaker, it's true the economy is listed as one of the four mandate pillars, but it doesn't feel like that. Mr. Speaker, the opportunity being missed here is, frankly, that the federal government has changed, maybe our focus has changed, or maybe our...

Original? Oh, yeah, yeah; it's getting confusing. Okay, now we're on the same page.

I think I'm within my realm that if we talked about the importance of unanimity on doing things collectively, I will stay focused on Bill 3 and the previous examples. And I think that that's important foundation sometimes if you change things. But, again, what's critical, and absolutely codified, is our traditions and practices matter. And whether you provide one example, you know, we can't use the word precedent because it has to be a normal sense that it's structured around. I don't believe at any time that...

I wouldn't mind debating for a second if it's possible, Mr. Speaker. I'm trying to figure out exactly what I revealed in the context of responding to the Member who just spoke. So in other words, I felt I was responding to his saying internal committee report was coming. That's only an internal process. He had just stated that on the record, and I was, hence, responding. So I can withdraw the points just to move on, but I was responding to him. Thank you.