Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Decentralization for decentralization should not be considered a mandate or a policy that we should live by. I’m concerned that we’re moving this because, first and foremost, we have a facility in Fort Smith already and if it was a matter of establishing a facility in Hay River to make them feel good about their potential loss and maybe move forward for that, then maybe we should be moving the one from Fort Smith there. I don’t know. We talk about spreading things around equitably, well, we have one in the South Slave already. Now we’re going to have two in the South...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I’ll recognize the Minister’s passion for getting people out of public housing into personal home ownership but before we move on too far, I would like to hear from the Minister because we did talk about that $109,000. If the Minister could clarify exactly when they realized when there was a clerical error and why they didn’t come down to my office immediately to clarify this, because this has been an issue out there for a week. A lot of people are very concerned about this. So when did this information come forward to the Minister that the letter he had sent to...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on March 9th I submitted a written question to the Minister of Housing in regard to information about the EDAP program. The reasoning behind that is because there is an urban legend out there about crazy amounts being given to people. On April 7th I had a great response from the Minister referring to the area I was specifically asking about, which was Yellowknife. It pointed out many detailed pieces of information in Yellowknife. All along I’ve been asking about the transparency issue and why are we giving such large dollars to so few. That’s all...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I do recognize the process and it was set up by this government many years ago. It was a one-year moratorium on land so we could settle the land claim process. But, Madam Speaker, the Yellowknives do have an entitlement to land, as does the city of Yellowknife have an entitlement for growth. Unfortunately, I would never like to see them conflict. That being said, would the Premier assure me that he’s working towards a mediation process or even just being there to help assist this process, so no stalemate ever exists between these two groups, so the City...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The City of Yellowknife is under a lot of pressure and has increasing demands for more residential lots and subdivisions in the city of Yellowknife. The residential areas are needed to add to the city’s quality of life, allowing the city’s increasing economic growth and to accommodate the city’s future workforce, the workforce that we are desperately trying to attract with initiatives done by this government. However, there is a very low supply of available residential lots and subdivisions at a reasonable cost to develop within this city.

Recently, the City of...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. Minister, for providing that clarification. I think that was very helpful. Seeing how we've mentioned the polar bear a few times, is this Minister in a position where he can inform me and this House as to what the cost of litigation was that the GNWT took against Sirius a couple years ago? What's the total cost of that legislation in regards to protecting or establishing a position that the GNWT owns that polar bear inscribed on the diamonds? If the Minister could provide that cost, I would appreciate it at this time.

Thank you. I know the Minister did answer the question there, but maybe if he could narrow it down to would we get an actual dollar amount and, if so, when? If the Minister is able to provide that actual dollar amount, taking into consideration the polar bear fees, if he's able to give that today, I'd like to hear and, if not, I'd like to hear when we would be able to hear that number in a public context. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I see this appropriation, one element has to do with the funding with regard to Sirius Diamonds Ltd. One concern I had, I guess looking at this situation, is first and foremost my first question to the Minister will be will there be a public disclosure, if there hasn't been already, on the bottom line sale of Sirius and the costs associated with the repossession of Sirius through its process? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I appreciate that answer and I appreciate what Minister Bell has started by establishing that working group. I would like to see that lead continue because it does affect a lot of people. Could I have the commitment from this Minister to assure me in this House today, so I can go back to some constituents of mine, that this working group will be meeting very shortly, in whatever capacity, so we can get some true results out there so people can see that the RCMP and our parks officers are jointly patrolling these areas? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have questions for Minister Miltenberger in his capacity of Minister of ENR, not on the TTC this time. Madam Speaker, my question is with regard to the Ingraham Trail. I have constituents along the trail, as well as every other Yellowknife MLA, who have legal cabins out there. In the past, they brought forward their concerns and the former Minister of RWED, Minister Bell, started actioning a program to help deal with some of those concerns, but he no longer carries that portfolio. The concerns brought forward were garbage, trail establishment, clear-cutting...