Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about the importance of the Prospectors Grubstake Program and I certainly would like to see it come back. During the Geoscience Forum that happened a number of weeks ago here in Yellowknife, different people talked about how important that contribution to the Grubstake Program was to help stimulate the work out there for prospecting.

Finally, you don’t have to look too far; you can look to the left of the NWT or to the right of the NWT to see how important mineral exploration can be to a particular territory’s economy. That brings...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister be willing to commit to getting me those numbers I asked about earlier, and at the same time would he be willing to provide me with a complete package of what people would use to fill out, whether it’s an application process or a package? Would he be able to provide that to me? Finally, if he could update the House as to do the staff at ECE actually support employers in filling out this probably lengthy package of information.

I appreciate the update from the Minister regarding how many people have applied. Maybe he could repeat it for the House, to be clear. In the last two years how many people have actually applied at the program and how many people have been successful through the program and been supported by the Nominee Program? Thank you.

For my final question, and it’s really built around to where do we go next. If we can get this Grubstake Program in place, tie it to a training program and initiative, it only makes sense if it follows suit with a resource development policy. I think that’s a critical component to make sure that this three-legged stool stands or else it will tip over. It’s all linked together in a broader, longer term vision. What does the Minister see in tying these three things together to make sure that we do have a future that’s open for business, just like our territories to the right and left of us...

I appreciate the answer from the Minister. I’d say what better way to show the industry, the prospectors and largely the mining industry that we’re committed to a mining future here. This issue is not singularly sung by myself. Is the Minister getting feedback from many of those in the mineral development community saying that this is something that will help kick-start further exploration in the Territories and, if so, what hurdles or challenges does the Minister see in bringing this policy forward so that we can help seed the Grubstake Program again?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to use my Member’s statement to talk about the Prospectors Grubstake Program. Decades ago, as many of us will know, there were hundreds of little-known prospectors wandering through the Northwest Territories looking for that special find. Some of those prospectors used every single resource that they could scrounge together and find their special stake that would strike them rich.

In the ‘30s we remember Gilbert Labine and C.E. St. Paul who discovered uranium in the Great Bear Lake area, as well as in 1934 many of us have heard of the name of Johnny Baker...

I think we’re still at a crossroads here. I’m not just talking about the mortgage payment; I’m talking about the fact that many people have a struggle every month, all through winter. I can speak to even a specific case, if I may, is I know one particular family uses their credit card every month throughout the winter to survive, to pay for the oil, to pay for the food, to help pay for the electricity, and they hope for a good summer to be able to get by to balance them out. This is a terrible way and any financial advisor would tell you that’s a terrible way to be doing business.

So I’m asking...

I appreciate the extra length to start to describe part of the problem, because the Minister got right to the point where I need to be, which is owning an asset is detrimental to being independent when you are struggling to get by. In other words, if you have a house and you have a mortgage and you can’t go to income support for help… As the Minister said, three times in your lifetime. There are a lot of people who struggle every single winter to pay for that power bill, that heating bill and certainly the high cost of food. That is the policy I am asking the Minister. Would he be willing to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a few constituents, as well, today and take the advantage here before us. I’d like to recognize Julie Green and certainly acknowledge her hard work as the representative of the YWCA. She’s one of the directors there. Peter Chynoweth, who is the minister of the United Church. Joy Newton, although I’ve spoken to her many times over the phone, I have never actually met her in person, so it would be nice to have that pleasure. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to recognize Chase Yakeleya, who is a good friend of my son. He’s sitting up there...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to use this opportunity to inform the House, and of course the public as well, that I’ll be voting in favour of this particular motion. I’d like to give credit to Ms. Bisaro for being a champion to this particular issue. She carried it forward in the last term quite strongly and I’d like to give her recognition and certainly her due that she deserves for bringing forward this motion. So I think that should not be overlooked. She’s become the new champion.

---Applause

She’s blushing. May that be noted on the record?

---Laughter

We need more champions like Ms. Bisaro...