Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the issues I have with this motion which has been included, is my concern that we do not have a policy that states that no appointments, especially serious appointments, where there is no emergency pending or falling before us, that we should not be appointing a position just before an election. Mr. Speaker, I wouldn’t want anybody to compromise anybody’s appointment by saying it’s a political appointment to gain favour just before or after an election. So, Mr. Speaker, my concerns and points have been raised in this motion. I will be voting in favour with my...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, as many of us know here, the PUB keeps shooting down the one-rate zone because you can’t operate in isolation. In other words, as the Minister has pointed out, you can’t have one style of power generation here and another there and another there and they come at three different costs. In fact, you can’t harmonize the costs because of the different delivery systems that we have. So, Mr. Speaker, how to deal with this is right before us. We can start harmonizing our power generation by working together. As the Minister said, we can start putting...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the Minister of the Power Corporation being the head of the Power Corporation obviously, is it part of their mandate or policy to ensure that we are delivering the most effective, affordable and cheapest power available? I am concerned that the NWT Power Corporation power rates are higher than they are when they are delivered by independent sources such as Northland Utilities. Is it the policy of the NWT Power Corporation to ensure that they are delivering the most affordable power to each home? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to talk today about the need for a power generation and utilization strategy so we tap into our enormous hydro potential. There are a lot of people interested in hydro energy potential that exists in our NWT. The mines need a cheap, clean and abundant supply of energy to power their operations. The people of the NWT need a cheap, clean and reliable source of energy, too. There are a number of potential projects before us. There is a green corridor, the proposed east to west national power grid, and I’m very interested in the potential the NWT can play in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I highlighted in my Member's statement today, there are a lot of concerns, as I see it and RVers see it coming to Yellowknife, with that Highway No. 3. Mr. Speaker, some sections are very good; I’ll say that for a fact. But some sections are very less good let me tell you, Mr. Speaker…

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Mr. Speaker, that highway cost us approximately $200 million and I’d say that’s probably $200 million well spent on a dust control program but not a highway, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to know, has the Minister of Transportation done any work in finding out...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that clause 120 of Bill 6 be amended by renumbering subsections (1.1) to (3) as subsections (2) to (4) respectively.

Mr. Chair, protection of the worker and falling in the direction of the worker when it’s sort of a judgment call needs to always be a philosophy and this act works to achieve that direction. I won’t go into length about some of the adjustments, but some of the changes that we’re now making new strides are we’re now putting money into expert medical advice, legal advice. WCB has become sort of an innovator, I’d like to say, because as presumption of occurrence and diseases have changed, I mean dealing with conflicting medical opinions is a new stride on how we are moving forward.

So, Mr. Chair...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think all through this we’ve missed the answer of how we’re going to fix this and how we’re going to deal with it. We’re going to hear just sit and wait, but we just had a mission accomplished or a big celebration last year. Well, Mr. Speaker, yes, it was a great celebration that it sort of got done, but when are we going to actually go back and just finish the job? So how much is it going to cost to fix and when are we going to get started on that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transportation reads that script very well. I almost believe him. But I didn’t. So, Mr. Speaker, the fact is the warranty of this project seems to have gone by the wayside. I’d like to know was there a warranty in place or did we get a second-rate job at a second-rate price? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am hearing from RVers and others who have been bottoming out on the Highway No. 3’s dips and ruts. My concerns are twofold. Firstly, this is a newly paved road. I don’t think we should be experiencing these kinds of problems so soon after completion. Secondly, I am concerned about what is being done to our tourism industry image. RVers are in contact with each other about facilities and road conditions. It is a huge community, Mr. Speaker. We would do well to pay attention to their concerns. The Japanese are being turned away from Canada and they are looking...