Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m coming at the perspective from the human angle and I’ve often said that any time we look at something we should always look to the communities first to see where we can bolster two or three. Ten or 20 new jobs in Yellowknife has not quite the same effect as it would in a regional community that needs those employment numbers, needs those investment dollars and needs that type of activity.

But what my question is really narrowed down to is what type of evaluation and incentives were offered to these employees to look at this transfer? I know this will be impacting...

If I understand the process correctly, the feds, in allowing these leases, at present it’s outside of our control and they are following the process until they wish to. They are steamrolling until theoretically April 1st when we take this over.

I am wondering if the MACA Minister sees this as a potential problem for enforcement. I’ve even heard rumours that people are building two-storey cabins or whatever the case may be. Who knows what they are building out there? So I guess there’s going to be an enforcement type of issue that is going to fall on the shoulders of the NWT government, as well...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank Mr. Bromley for raising this issue. I certainly wanted to give a first shot at it. I think he did it very well. This problem out there on the Ingraham Trail is not just a problem here in Yellowknife, it is certainly a problem in other regions. The bigger issue here is that it is affecting this region quite hard. One of the issues raised here today was about the relationship with the YK Dene and certainly that this new issue has fallen on their lap.

I want to know what the MACA Minister is doing to help maybe build a relationship with the YK Dene on this...

When I hear the Premier how he feels about this issue, I mean, to be quite frank, I don’t care how he personally feels. But it sounds as if the decision has already been made on that biasness, and there are five provinces who already regulate as very good and simple models.

What type of public input has the Premier gone to beyond his personal feelings, or the government’s feelings, of price regulation? What type of public input on what the people would like on this issue? That’s ultimately the question here is: Is price regulation needed in the Northwest Territories, and is it wanted by...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On February 28th this House passed a motion regarding fuel price regulation, to investigate and evaluate the possibilities of gas price regulation here in the Northwest Territories.

My question to the Premier of our Assembly here is: What has this government done to date in preparing for the 120-day response over gas price regulation for the people of the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Northerners continue to be held hostage. This is a reality and it is far too common to hear this question. Why isn’t our government standing up for our northern people? The government would tell you they are fighting and working hard on the cost of living problem. Talk is certainly cheap. I can tell, from looking around here, that it must have been on sale too.

We live in a time of ever increasing energy costs. Last week Northerners experienced rate shock at the pumps. Why? Because they could. That is why. No one holds them to account. Normally a free market being left...

Mr. Speaker, if I heard the Minister correctly, and from what I have heard on the ground, through the land advisory relationship process, the YK Dene were caught by surprise. Even the GNWT was caught by surprise. If it wasn’t for some of the screaming, well-tuned-in public, most of us probably would have been caught by surprise even worse than what has been happening now.

From the Minister’s perspective through process only, obviously, were there any gaps here? Why wasn’t there proper feedback from the feds on a relationship of the land advisory process? I believe the GNWT is party to this. I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think even our own economic opportunities group that was doing a study on creating a robust environment for business cited concerns about the difficulty in prices around fuel in every region.

Would the Premier provide an opportunity for the public to provide some public input on their feelings on this particular issue? Will he reach out to the public as they build a government position? As the Premier knows, I have an on-line petition. Will the Premier be willing to help promote that to ensure we get public input on this issue that’s so important?

I’m not sure what carbon tax has to do with anything on this. My question for the Premier, once again, is: What work has been done to date preparing for the official response to the House on gas price regulation, which the request was to investigate and evaluate that possibility?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize and acknowledge a few people in the gallery. You can never recognize one of our favourite Yellowknife people, who is Mr. Anthony W.J. Whitford. When you read out his bio earlier, I think it alone could have been a Member’s statement for how many titles he has had, but I think you missed one where he is a marriage commissioner as well.

As well, I would like to acknowledge Ms. Lydia Bardak. She is the executive director of the John Howard Society. I would also like to acknowledge, as well as the Premier has, Melody McLeod. I have...