Robert Hawkins

Mr. Speaker, I am confused if the Minister thinks it only has to come from the mayor, not MLAs. I mean, I am concerned about the less value it's viewed on our opinion, Mr. Speaker. The question is, the GNWT paid 75 to 25 cent dollars on the Highway No. 9 project. It should include the city of Yellowknife because this legislature is paying it. Will the Minister agree to investigate and discuss with colleagues, such as myself, to make sure the city of Yellowknife's interest is represented in this initiative, this territorial initiative? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to return to the Minister of strategic infrastructure. And my next round of questioning is going to be framed around who is representing the city of Yellowknife's interest in the 50 percent of our economy, Mr. Speaker.

Will the Minister of strategic infrastructure sign a memorandum of agreement, or a cooperation partnership agreement, with the City of Yellowknife to ensure 50 percent of the northern economy doesn't get boxed out and becomes a partner, as pointed out by the infrastructure Minister earlier today?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I repeat the short words of the infrastructure Minister, connecting the North for the benefit of the Northerners. So, Mr. Speaker, my second question is not about excluding Indigenous partnership, it's including the city of Yellowknife in this big MOU. So why isn't the city of Yellowknife included in the routing conversation? Because this population represents 50 percent of the northern economy and 50 percent of the population, Mr. Speaker. It needs to be included in this conversation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that.

Mr. Speaker, today I want to first begin by quoting the Minister of Infrastructure's statement. It was certainly timely with respect to my Member's statement. It says, capital projects encompass new opportunities to build, protect, and connect the North for the benefit of Northerners, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it gave me quick pause because I thought about the Arctic Economic Security Corridor and how important that that's going to be, so I couldn't agree with that statement more. Now, what's interesting here is the Tlicho and the YKFDN have a joint...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your honourable committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 33, Technical Safety Statutes Amendment Act.

Bill 33 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on October 30th, 2025, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment for its review.

Mr. Speaker, on February 10th, 2026, the committee held a public hearing with the Minister of Infrastructure and completed its clause by clause with the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I can say after committee's robust review and reports now back that the Technical Safety...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure what the Cabinet's hoping for after hearing that answer. My goodness, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, someone at a political level should represent the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, if the Minister doesn't have the time, maybe one of us. I sit on the committee that oversees it. And, if anything, Mr. Speaker, I am sure the senior envoy has nothing to do; he could go. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be willing to designate someone or put an offer out there, because those parents and youth really appreciate us joining arm-in-arm with them, supporting them, and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my last question really is focused around the North Slave now. Where would the campus be? Is there any actual planning or identification of where the North Slave campus would be located and what type of partners they'd be working with? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are going to be to the Minister of education and just get an update with respect to how the polytech is evolving.

Recently, in the news, Mr. University, we saw the announcement of the Nunavut University. I also read in the news about the Manitoba Institute of Technology losing almost 50 percent of foreign students and, hence, they have to shutter their polytech. And, lastly, Mr. Speaker, I should point out that the Polytech Institute in northern Canada became a polytech within months of planning.

So I guess watching the online transitional...

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister be interested in signing a formal agreement with respect to the Arctic Economic Security Corridor noting that the city of Yellowknife's interests will be represented at the table in some form, and it should highlight as a clear non-starter that the city of Yellowknife will not be excluded from this initiative. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it may not be a landowner but, Mr. Speaker, my last question is really structured around the capital's interest in the northern economy. So I am told -- this is the question. I am told that the current sketch that's being worked out ignores the city of Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker, and if that's the proposed working route given to the GNWT to advocate, will the GNWT say no and will they have the courage to say the city of Yellowknife needs to be part of this corridor and not excluded and not ignored. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.