Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just quickly, I know some Members may prefer something larger. Myself, I prefer a vote in this Assembly. I think the people elect us for a particular reason: to lead on these particular issues. As proof, as you noticed today, we had five out of the seven Aboriginal groups signing on, so it shows broader support for this initiative, by all means. I prefer a public vote in this Assembly, and maybe the Premier could speak to how he feels that that will get the message on and carry forward these initiatives. Because I think citizens want to know are their leaders leading...

With the budget publicized, how do we know that we’re going to get the best price for this particular project?

That’s certainly good news that it sounds like something’s coming. We have to be fair. I mean, it doesn’t just show up. Some work has to be done.

In the Premier’s very well-crafted comments when he was speaking here before the Prime Minister, he had made mention of a vote. I’d like to know, or ask the Premier, what type of vote is anticipated on this final Devolution Agreement and when can we expect to see this.

Is anyone sharing any risk on this particular highway besides the Government of the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few people I’d like to recognize, but first I’d like to start with the Pages here today. Chad Martin is from Mildred Hall School and he’s a constituent of Yellowknife Centre; as well as Miguel Gordon, who is a Mildred Hall student; and although not a constituent of Yellowknife Centre, Muhammad Awan is a Mildred Hall student. So I’d like to say, in some way, in some form the Mildred Hall students all belong to Yellowknife Centre, who I get to see regularly and I’m very proud to go to that school quite often as a parent of two kids that go there.

The other person...

When will we know if this will be a tender or a negotiated contract?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I completely disagree with the assertion of the Minister’s. This is, quite frankly, smoke and mirrors. By laying this information out in a way that we can’t get public consultation, I have been prohibited strictly from seeking information by this government because the words confidential have been stamped on all the information we’ve constantly been receiving in private briefings. This Minister should enlighten this House how he gave us the fullness of all information in a confidential manner, in a manner we can’t seek public information and guidance from this, to...

Is the Minister saying that now that we’ve printed this in a plain language document that that’s become a risk?

Thanks. Again, speaking about the process here – and that’s what I’ve been concerned about all along – yes, I asked for a plain language document in the House repeatedly last week to the Minister. Of course, he avoided answering the question the best he could, but what the public saw and what they responded to me was the fact that we needed a plain language document out there in the public, no matter how funny it seems to the Minister, so we can get these types of input and value on these projects, because some of the issues, I have to tell you, I’m not fully experienced in these areas. So I...

Mr. Chairman, I’m running out of time, and I know that Members will be moving a motion here shortly, so not to be too far in my anticipation, but on the $5 million, I will support, but at the same time, I do want to ask more questions during the $60 million portion.

That said, I’m just concerned about the way $5 million is being asked for this late in the game because it’s in this fiscal year. Quite frankly, the reflection in getting here is we are trying to make some type of financial commitment, contract, as quickly as possible. Everybody knows it won’t be spent by this fiscal year and that...