Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I outlined in my Member’s statement today, I have concerns with the status of the negotiations that are going on at Aven Manor here in Yellowknife. I also mentioned the concern of the level of support the department is providing the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority in conducting those negotiations. Can the Minister inform the Assembly on the status of the negotiations with the union representing the workers at Aven Manor here? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the detailed information from the Minister. I thought he was running the clock on me. Mr. Chair, I thought, if I understand it correctly, the Akaitcho are going to run a water summit coming up here. I am not sure why the Minister would want to be running one as well. I don’t know if he is competing or enhancing it some other way, but I am just curious on this technical advisor detail and then you went on further to talk about the impacts of oil sands. I am surprised you are not going off to an area in discussion that talks about reaching CPAWS and things...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish I could be talking about the abuse of alcohol today…(inaudible)…with my colleagues, but with a short session I have another topic I have to raise today that’s very important. March 31st is always a significant date in the NWT and it’s the end of the government’s fiscal year. As well, it coincides with the end of many contracts that go along with our NGOs. Today I’d like to talk about one of those contracts, or lack of contracts, Mr. Speaker.

Workers at Aven Manor in Yellowknife saw their contract expire six weeks ago, on March 31st. These...

Yes, still there.

I haven’t changed.

Thank you, Madam Chair. If the Minister could further explain in detail, we have an item listed as $221,000 to provide funding to ensure GNWT’s interest in current and emerging water management issues are maintained. Maybe he could explain what that statement means. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, let’s be honest; we’re not talking about a typo here; we’re talking about a company that misrepresents themselves with false information by saying we will offer a service by bringing forward this professional who’s competent. Mr. Speaker, I think we’re really down to an ethical question that the Minister should be asking himself. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister go back and review this and do the right decision by pulling back this contract and reissuing a fair tender; therefore, we have all the facts on the table and the most honest and fair process...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate that. Mr. Speaker, I’m sure the firm that’s offering this program offers competent programs but, Mr. Speaker, the fact is that they misrepresented themselves and the Minister doesn’t seem to characterize false information or misrepresentation as a no-no. Mr. Speaker, what investigation has the Minister done to ensure that this was either the only issue or what other issues may have arisen? Because if you’re putting in a proposal that is not full and true, this government should not be honouring it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Twenty-five dollars, according to my Sahtu colleague. The thing is, I’m not sure he’s right, but the point is if we could make things more competitive, maybe we can also help those costs from being spilt down on people and we can also help encourage them to have healthier lifestyles, Mr. Speaker. Conservation versus consumption, it’s great. Conservation is the right idea; change your light bulbs, those things all help. I’ve gone to Arctic Energy Alliance and I borrowed their metre, I plugged it in the wall, I tested my TV for a couple days, my computer to find out ways I could be more...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank Mrs. Groenewegen for bringing this forward. I am in full support of it. That is why I asked her if I could second this motion. To me, this motion really speaks to the principle of the people we take care of. That would be our youth, our children, the people at risk. They could be our seniors. They could be anyone.

Mr. Speaker, I believe we are duty bound as Members here to find ways and take every step that we consider reasonably possible to protect those from the predators that prey upon those people at risk I talked about earlier. Mrs...