Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have something to table today. It was a picture that was e-mailed to me that really sums up the cell phone issue. It’s says “Honk if you Love Jesus and Text While You’re Driving if You’d Like to Meet Him.” I’ll make sure the Minister of Transportation gets a copy.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to see if the Minister will commit to developing a policy that could help stimulate a housing boom here in the Northwest Territories that does not disrupt market costs or market value in the Northwest Territories but stimulates it through some kind of a bursary program that could work through our individual municipalities again to help them with the infrastructure costs and the land development costs. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be willing to look at a policy of that nature to help kick off our economy after this recession? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today in my Member’s statement I was trying to talk about the issue of solving some our housing problems. We’ve got one arm of the government trying to attract people; we’ve got another arm of the government of housing that likes to talk about how they work to increase the adequate supply and sustainability and, certainly, the affordability of housing, but we just don’t seem to have a conductor organizing this whole thing. Then comes along this committee called the strategic investment for cost of living. I think they could be the real focus of this and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a week ago I talked about this issue -- the caribou issue, that is -- and I tried to frame it around the fact that this is more than just a legal issue that we’re talking about. It’s more than a caribou issue that we’re talking about. It’s also about an issue of trust and relationships. That’ s where the issue really lies, Mr. Speaker. It’s about the rights of aboriginal people being able to hunt caribou. It’s about the rights of aboriginal people being part of the decision whether they can hunt caribou or not.

Mr. Speaker, why didn’t we start with...

Mr. Speaker, quite simply put: when did the Minister go out to, whether it’s an aboriginal hunting organization, if I may define them in that way, such as the chiefs or the bands, and certainly with the outfitters of saying what could be your bare minimum that could get you through the winter until we can get these types of boards such as the Wekeezhii board to make that decision? When was that type of discussion going to take place or when did that discussion take place by empowering them to make the decisions for themselves as opposed to government flying in and saying you’re done? Thank you...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have some questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources regarding the steps and process put into place regarding this caribou issue. Mr. Speaker, I have constituents of First Nations background who say to me that some of their people are going hungry. I have constituents who own outfitting lodges that now they can’t bring in people to hunt these caribou and they say they’re going to go hungry. Mr. Speaker, the reality is if you depend on this, people are put at risk. I’m curious as to what steps the Minister has put into place to...

Mr. Speaker, people building houses in some particular cases do not require trade certification. So, in other words, the homeowner, or I should say potential homeowner, could be put at significant risk trying to fulfill part of their family’s dream of owning their own house. This government shows little interest in doing this. Mr. Speaker, it is the cost of taking a serious look at legislation that already exists. It is the cost of printing it on paper, which really isn’t that expensive. Mr. Speaker, it is not a big cost. Would the Minister commit to this House that he would investigate the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about the issue of lack of legislation to protect new homeowners. If their home is built and there are problems, in essence the new potential homeowner is the one left holding the bag and that risk. Mr. Speaker, with some thorough research, I was unable to find any policies that exist in our government that helps protect these types of people from these risks. I am going to ask the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, because he is also the Minister who would be in charge of consumer protection services so I think that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk about insurance for what is usually the most expensive item that an individual or even a family will ever purchase and that is the family home. For many people who are out there buying new homes, they’ll find that they’re either very limited or there is no warranty at all for their new home purchase.

Mr. Speaker, that’s certainly not right, because if you go down today to Canadian Tire to buy a lawnmower and it doesn’t work, you can take it back because it has a warranty.

Mr. Speaker, if you go down to YK Chrysler and buy a new car, it comes with a...

Mr. Speaker, I try not to impress upon anyone that I am an environmental scientist in the area of caribou study in no way or no matter, but the reality is I am sure that there could have been an identifiable number said that we can find a minimum. That is what I am talking about; about making sure that people can eat and people can fulfill some of their traditional lifestyles without the government impeding on that type of philosophy. Mr. Speaker, is it too late for this government to find a balance to work out with the First Nations people of this area as well as finding a way for outfitters...