Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I wanted to highlight in some manner about how important midwifery services are here in the Northwest Territories. I also wanted to give credit to Leslie Paulette for making it the success it is. It comes with quite a national reputation of being a brilliant success all started by a small program in Fort Smith.

Mr. Speaker, the program in Yellowknife has been cut and it was a very important program to many families. My first question to the Minister of Health and Social Services is: when will the midwifery services be offered again in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some months ago the Minister of Health and Social Services announced the suspension of midwifery services in Yellowknife. This was not welcome news for many women and families who had benefited from the services and those who would like to plan for the future. A recent petition supporting the program had 304 signatures. To me that speaks out loud and clear about how important the services are.

When midwifery services were first offered in Yellowknife, it was part of a plan to expand the Midwifery Program that began in Fort Smith, to reach out to other centres across our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I cited a number of concerns with the summer student hiring process. The process is more than just how many students we’ve hired; it’s about how we hire them and, of course, what type of promise and opportunity we provide them. I think it’s quite understood that we have an obligation to ensure that our future workforce is certainly prepared for the opportunities before them, and I think it’s an important role.

Mr. Speaker, HR at present doesn’t have the official coordination powers and authority to, in my view, fully manage the summer...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Edward Esau. He’s a Page here helping us do our business of the Assembly. He’s most notably known as the son of one of our staff members, Phoebe Esau. Thanks for your help here today. Thank you.

I move that subclause 10(2) of Bill 10 is amended by:

striking out “and” at the end of paragraph (c);

deleting paragraph (d); and

adding the following paragraph after (c):

recommendations respecting whether the act should be amended to include a provision requiring a special majority to make further amendments to the act or to authorize transfers from the Heritage Fund; and

recommendations respecting any other amendments that should be made to the act.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to say that I fully concur with the Minister’s answer and completely disagree with Mr. Bromley’s ascertain to what should be done in this particular case. Wasting money by administering something that doesn’t make any money at that time seems to be a bit of a pointless, fruitless argument at this time. I think the 10-year review and every 10-year review after that will address those types of questions as need be.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be voting in favour of this particular motion, but I would like to caution Members, as well as future Members, who will be dealing with this type of challenge. We must clearly distinguish the role that we represent.

It’s Cabinet’s typical role of developing legislation, proposing it to the Members, and the Members will review it, respond to it, and dispose of it appropriately in the House. I caution this because if we are reviewing or commenting on regulations, I then beg to say on this particular case is the next logical step that our MLAs on the Members’ side...

Not yet, Mr. Chairman, I’m waiting for the vote. Thank you.

I want to thank the Minister for that particular lead in to my next question because he’s right in the context of how do we balance that fairly. We’re well aware of students being hired by the same departments year after year, not giving a break to new students. Some never even get opportunities at territorial government jobs and we’re all well aware of students being hired in February and March, even before the summer student application process begins. So in other words, they’re all scooped up, the old returnees continue to return to the same jobs and I’m concerned about fairness.

Will the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, with great sadness, I wish to pause and make special note to the First Air flight that met with tragic ends on its approach into Resolute Bay this past Saturday.

As we all know, 12 of the 15 people on board didn’t make it and, without any doubt, the impact of this tragedy will have significant and lasting effects on all Northerners.

I know that this experience has affected two families directly in the riding of Yellowknife Centre, both the Golding and Merritt families. My heart goes out to them as well as all the other families that lost loved ones on that flight...