Robert Hawkins

If we’re waiting until the fall into 2012, which is obviously still good. I mean, it’s good to hear that we’re going in the right direction, how are we supposed to work with the ITI counterparts about getting out there, from an outfitter point of view, of selling some of these packages? Is there any way to work early with these outfitters and draw some early indications so they can actually get out there, sell their packages and get back to business, which, by the way, brings a lot of money into our economy? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today the Honourable J. Michael Miltenberger, Minister of Environment, talked about an update on the barren ground caribou management and a particular question that’s come regularly from the constituency is the outfitter problem. We can see significant growth in the population of the herds. I’d like to ask the Minister of ENR when the outfitters can expect to get back into the business of providing outfitting opportunities. Because the caribou setback and moratorium had done considerable damage to the reputation of the North, and certainly these outfitters are bleeding...

Although the Minister didn’t answer the question, I will thank him for the point he emphasizes, that we need that service in the size and the magnitude of the problem. That’s only just one element. We’ve got lots of health services that go there. My point being is that we have an active role and you’d think as their client that they would be very interested in our opinion. I’d like to reaffirm my question, similar to Mrs. Groenewegen’s earlier, which is: What type of active role is this Minister going to take in this particular problem and will he join the lobby effort by the Alberta...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the Minister saying to this House that they’re now involved in this particular observation and discussion and evaluation of the Edmonton Garrison solution? I think it is a viable solution and I just want to make sure our government is involved in the final decision. Even if it’s a small voice on there, it needs to be a voice at that table. Thank you.

Thank you. Last term our government did mention or at least talked about their somewhat willingness and participation in the Health Quality Council in Alberta in their dialogue and overview of services, and the Alberta province itself says until we have a solution we won’t be closing the Muni. This is a solution, but part of that relationship would be that the Health Council of Alberta is the Northwest Territories government through the Minister of Health’s office was formulating some relationship on this particular subject and it may have been weak, but at the same time they were still...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a constituent of Yellowknife Centre, the former Member for Mackenzie Delta and a guy that could out-talk everybody in this Assembly, and certainly a guy who knows a heck of a lot of the goings on in the Northwest Territories, the one and only Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that committee reports progress.

---Carried

That still leaves the outstanding question as to when can we expect that type of result to be publicly delivered. These outfitters are sitting, waiting patiently. Their outfitting lodges are in mothballs. You know, they still have to pay the mortgages and they’re sitting there without any revenue. They’ve been sitting patiently a long time as partners to this problem. When can we expect that type of answer to be delivered?

Will the Minister commit to do this and report back to the House on his particular activities as well as report to standing committee? Because this is an active issue and many Northerners care. Will he make that commitment? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’d like to move a committee motion. I move that this committee recommends that tablet computers or other similar electronic devices be considered as a type of laptop computer/hand-held device, subject to the existing conventions in the House regarding electronic communication devices. Thank you, Madam Chair.