Robert Hawkins

Well, Mr. Speaker, I'll ask the same question. The Prime Minister of Canada's paid about $300,000. I believe the base pay of all MPs is about $200,000, and he receives a hundred thousand additional on top. That's how you get to 300,000. So now that we've set the table, Mr. Speaker, the question still stands, how many politically-appointed GNWT staff are paid more than the Prime Minister of Canada? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There was a lot out there unpacked. But I didn't hear that they're either in favour of it or against it, anticipate to approve it, or working to approve it, anything of that nature. Can the Minister be clear on that initiative; what's the ultimate goal and direction that this department is going to proceed with? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corp. Perhaps we can start with an update with respect to the overall Taltson project. And when I refer to update, maybe some timelines including costing. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, six months ago, this Assembly stopped at nothing to approve an initiative brought forward by the Indigenous governments, and their proposal, I believe, was called the NWTPFP -- I'm not sure why it's actually specifically called project finance permanence. But that said, must matter. So there was $375 million being offered, and the NWT government potentially could stand in the way if we had dragged our heels. In short, Mr. Speaker, it was about a project of lands and keepers of the land, and I'm giving a simple description of it, but it's never been approved...

Mr. Speaker, old government/new government, good offer/bad offer - I don't know. So why did the Minister refuse the 50 refugees so we couldn't get the opportunity for the 150 nominees? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I was proceeding to my point -- thank you -- I'm getting at is why doesn't the Member -- Minister engage Members as being part of the solution rather than this wall of we know everything and stay out of our way? Thank you.

Another?

So, Mr. Speaker, just to clarify the record, I'm hearing that Members don't matter. I'm hearing that only one matters are Indigenous governments and the Cabinet. This issue particularly matters to a lot of Northerners, not just in Yellowknife. I got phone calls from Hay River. I know my colleague got phone calls from Inuvik. All these places in the North. It's a northern problem. Mr. Speaker, what is the problem -- what is -- the Minister doesn't like the statement, that's the problem. I wish she'd have that fire in Ottawa, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since entering this building, the 20th Assembly, I certainly made sure health care is on my mind, front of mind, all the time. As a matter of fact, many of the issues that I've been raising, well -- you know, as well as with my good colleague from Range Lake is many of the issues that affect the people here in our gallery today in support in it different ways, and certainly in support of the system to reflect and improve, Mr. Speaker. I want to caution people to assume that this bill is going to solve everything and I'm going to contextualize it like that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to follow up on the questions raised by my good colleague from Range Lake, same subject, same Minister, Mr. Speaker.

I've been around politics a long time. I'm not going to say I'm the oldest in the sense of this process. Many people have excellent experience around politics in this room and including the territory. But one thing I've noticed about leadership is about how you define yourself. And sometimes I see people make declarations and that causes other people to stand up and see how they can respond to it. So in other words, I'm getting at is...