Robert Hawkins

Would it not be in our interests to flex our muscles in that regard? Because if we’re paying the general contractor their money and they’re withholding payment to the subcontractors, who could be northern contractors, would it not be in our interest to suggest that we put that type of downward pressure by good policy to demonstrate our northern subcontractors are just as much of value as whoever the general contractor is?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I begin, I too wish to acknowledge our fantastic students that are here in the gallery today. I was very impressed with their flash mob as well. It was clearly a statement that this generation is standing up to bullying and they’re certainly saying, in their own way, bully no more. I want to thank them for that.

I’d like to follow up on some concerns I expressed last week about the northern workforce at our mines. The Government of the Northwest Territories has negotiated and signed a total of five socio-economic agreements with industry over the last 17 years and...

Well, I would like to ask a question and I’d hate to think we’re stifling public debate and democracy here, and shame on those who groan if we ask some questions. The petroleum products division, would they be able to talk about what resources they have here, what resources they use in human capital and certainly in the context of financial resources they spread out and to what communities? As of recently, I’ve clearly been raising the issue of gas regulation and I’ve likened it to some of the work we do under petroleum products division already. So I’m curious on the human capital we have...

I’ll thank him for that. The next question I would have is: Do we have a policy on our projects that we implement or contract or sign on where they must pay their northern suppliers or their workforce or their subs within a certain amount of time?

I don’t really have a question but I have more of a statement which is, I would hope that if the department sends their information to committee, I would hope that they would be based on, as I said earlier, it’s better and easier to gauge consumption levels than it is to, say, price levels. Because, as we know, the power bills increase but perhaps consumption has been contiguous, which demonstrates that that’s the problem. It’s not necessarily the technical money sense, although money is obviously the issue, but at least it demonstrates stewardship under these principles. If you’re short...

That was the missing component there. Can I be sent a copy of the report once it’s been done?

I think that’s enough of a cursory intro to know exactly what that is. Just one other last question. Under drug treatment funding program, Nats’ejee K’eh Centre Youth Treatment Program, are there any deliverables under this particular section? We have a section worth commitment, requiring $345,000. I’m just wondering if there’s any reporting or deliverables that we see sent to the Legislature.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m wondering if the Minister could provide some details on the NWT National Diabetes and Chronic Disease Surveillance System.

That’s okay for now. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee strongly recommends that the government take immediate action to identify additional funding for health promotion and education initiatives in areas such as healthy eating, active living and early childhood development.