Robert Hawkins

Not a problem, Mr. Speaker. Not a problem.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, October 17th, 2025, I will move the motion already read earlier today; is that correct? Thank you, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, October 16th, 2025, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member from Tu Nedhe, that the Legislative Assembly recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories reimburse Avens $400,000, which is the portion of costs incurred from their assistance to the government during the 2023 Wildfire Evacuation, and it is not covered by the federal disaster fund;

And furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories, in its response to the 2023 Wildfire Emergency Response...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't think you could say it enough. Thank you to the first responders up here in our gallery today. I also see some RCMP members, so I want to make sure that they are recognized as well as the firefighters. These are callings and special people answer that call, so thank you and much appreciated. So to all of you, thank you.

Lastly, but certainly not least, I wish to acknowledge the Testart-Marshall family. Yesterday I think I acknowledged my colleague's spouse for being the brilliance. I would also, then, will have to have a conversation later about some of his less...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister willing to work on this. I would ask in the context of urgency and zeal, because I mean, it's burger season, you know. So I don't want anyone in trouble. That's why I would ask the Minister to find a way to pull it back as reasonably as possible and would she be willing to make sure that this is done sooner than later because we don't want generous gifts to the community penalized by kind people helping others. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my Member's statement, we're running out of time so I'm going to try to squeeze a couple extra questions in here through this process.

Mr. Speaker, I was just simply gobsmacked when I heard that NGOs and community groups have to now get a health permit to have a barbecue. And, Mr. Speaker, could the Minister maybe enlighten how this process came along and what are we fixing? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At first, it may appear like a layout of cash but it's not. It's just a guarantee, and the GNWT will get its money back because this is a 50-year organization that is cruising to work.

Mr. Speaker, what communication has the Minister, through her department obviously, had with the Yellowknife Community Association in the context of NUP about what they're doing and how they're trying to meet their deadline of tomorrow May 30th? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ever so briefly, I want to recognize and acknowledge all the incredible interpreters we have here. I would certainly say to some degree they are all my favourites; however, Mr. Speaker, I have one favorite who is just a little more favorite, and that happens to be Ms. Sarah Cleary. She's here, and she interprets Dene Kede, and I'm certainly grateful to call her a friend as well a constituent, and I appreciate the hard work she does here every day we sit. Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First off, I want to thank union firefighter Chris Bittrolff for initiating this initiative, I guess I'll say it that way, by bringing it to my colleague from Range Lake. Once that dialogue got started, you know, it was easy to understand how important this particular initiative is. We tend to forget and just maybe sometimes take certain industries for granted. And it's no one's fault, which is you always know they'll be there when you need them, but sometimes we have to ask ourselves are we there when they need us. So, you know, as we hear the fire or the alarms or the...

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for recognizing me. I have two documents I would like to table. The first document is a press release from Avens community for seniors, and it's the press release regarding the concerns about the -- articulated through their after-action reports. And of course, the second set -- back of the page is contact names, where you can contact them directly for the actual report. So I'd like to table their press release.

The second item I wish to table before the House today, Mr. Speaker, is a draft motion. It's called Remuneration of Essential Staff During an Evacuation. It's a...