Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, March 13th, 2025, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Range Lake, that this Legislative Assembly calls upon the Government of the Northwest Territories to immediately halt any further advancement and implementation of the new Indigenous employment policy, also known as the IEP, and return to using the affirmative action policy without delay as the primary hiring guidelines for the Government of the Northwest Territories;

And further, that the Minister of Finance engage with the Standing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm trying to find out has any new agreement or objective, even a handshake deal, been done between any of these situations that can be clarified in the House? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, back, I believe in June of last year during oral question 253-20(1), my question, I was asking about the future of Rockhill. And the Minister in her response said that they had an agreement with the NWT Disabilities Council, and that's in Hansard, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to get an update with respect to what's happening with that agreement, and is it moving forward in what form, either with the disabilities council or what is happening with that property? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the similar note, Mr. Speaker, in the committee just recently the Minister had said known the policy of -- the affirmative action policy to be clear -- was known to be unconstitutional. Now, I'm not asking her opinion. I'm asking for her facts. So what facts does she have in a legal opinion that state this, and would she be willing to share this secret knowledge to Members? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I would certainly describe moose as the northern delicacy. But that said, dry meat from caribou is always welcome and delicious, Mr. Speaker. What types of working groups are out there that the Minister's working with trying to encourage sustainable harvesting so we can see the herds increase in numbers so they will be there for further generations? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister of environment some questions regarding caribou.

Mr. Speaker, I was on the highway a couple weeks ago, and I saw a small herd of eight caribou near the Whati Road, and I only thought to myself jeez, I sure hope they know where they are. Because I'll tell ya, they looked delicious. Anyway, that said, the numbers have always been at risk and hence my question specifically to the Minister is is what is the most current count of herds, and do we have any that are on the increase? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I should mention I forgot to say that MLA for Range Lake was also advocating on this issue too.

So, Mr. Speaker, back to the question at hand. Mr. Speaker, the Premier and I had some conversations in the last sit -- sorry, in the last month about a joint working group. Would he still be interested on creating a joint working group, and I'll table the terms of reference today. I'm curious on his opinion on that with respect to national defence spending.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS Section 48(1) of the Human Rights Act provides for the establishment of an adjudication panel composed of at least three persons appointed by the Commissioner on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS Section 48(4) of the Human Rights Act provides that the members of the panel hold office, during good behaviour, for a term of four years, with the exception of the first member appointed;

AND WHEREAS, there are currently two appointments to the panel which expire March 31, 2025;

AND WHEREAS, the board of management is tasked with recommending...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with approximately 937 days left in this Assembly, Mr. Speaker, I wonder what will happen next. Mr. Speaker, in my February statement I talked about being bold, reaching out to the defence Minister, talking about getting investment in the North.

Mr. Speaker, recently a Cabin Radio story talked about Inuvik and Yellowknife becoming the hubs in the North. Mr. Speaker, their story said there's $218 million over 20 years going to be spent. Let's be frank, Mr. Speaker. That's a drop in the bucket as far as defence spending goes. Mr. Speaker, if I spoke in NWT...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 13th, 2025, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Sheldon Toner of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and Jay Sengupta of Hamilton, Ontario, be recommended to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories for reappointment as members of the Human Rights Adjudication Panel, effective April 1, 2025, for a term of four years.

And, Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this specific motion later today. Thank...