Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to start off today by thanking the NWT Construction Association, which held a meeting last Friday to talk about 300 homes for 300 families. They want to find a way to help attract people to the Northwest Territories. I must highlight that they’ve really sparked off the debate as to where some of our financial and long-term visions should lie. Certainly, they’ve nailed it down to one of the biggest problems we have here in the North. The Construction Association has clearly identified that housing is a serious problem here in the North and, certainly...

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...

Mr. Speaker, if this was on the radar for so long, why didn’t the Department of ENR manage what I would define as a sustainable hunt? And I would balance it equally between the local, traditional people who need to hunt this for food as well as, of course, the business type of people such as the outfitters who depend on this, who hire local people, and that meat goes to food. Mr. Speaker, we have two large impacted groups that if this was in the red zone continually, why wasn’t early on a number identified so these groups could work together and find a manageable balance? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Minister for that commitment there. I think that’s an excellent solve for this particular issue, I’d be willing to help the Minister with some of the research I’ve done to show that perhaps it maybe isn’t that complicated to bring forward this idea. If the Minister would be willing to see what is out there, would he be willing to potentially take this on as a legislative initiative if we can do it this time around or certainly set it up so it’s a consideration for the next government in 14 or 16 months from now?

Mr. Speaker, I am aware that CMHC actually has the clause built in about protecting the loan. Mr. Speaker, as I cited today, back in the ‘70s Alberta instituted protection for home buyers to make sure that their home had a warranty if something happened. We don’t have to look very far here in the recent past with Bayview Estates when the builder ran into problems and the project came to its knees and a grinding halt. That put those potential homeowners at significant risk. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister look into the issue of potentially creating legislation that could provide this type of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a great pleasure to recognize Murray McMahon. He’s here in the gallery and is a constituent of Yellowknife Centre, as well as Margaret Petersen, who is with him.

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...