Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know all of us are listening on this side. That certainly sounded like a commitment to look into that, but maybe if I could get the Premier to reaffirm that in a commitment he’d open up the door to discussions. I don’t think its part of a devolution deal. This sounds like a sidebar deal on the parental leave issue only. So if the Premier could address that by saying today he’ll look into that and commit to just following up to find out if the Northwest Territories can implement this policy, heck, I don’t need my next two questions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time, I, too, would like to recognize the Yellowknife seniors for being here. I appreciate their watchful eye on us and keeping us all honest. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. Minister. The reason I raise this point again is to reaffirm that we still have communities that we’re not meeting their basic needs, and by no means I’d like to restrict them by saying only nurses can get them or whatnot, or only lawyers or teachers or whatever the case may be as applicable. I wouldn’t want us to think that. I mean, we have to say something. If SAOs, communities want them to do whatever they want, that’s their business and that’s not my business. Our business here is to make sure that we give them that type of resource so they...

Thank you for recognizing me, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, when I think of this, it’s about making tracks again. I stress the word "again" because I was reading one of Marleau Montpetit's books, and I was perusing one of the pages, and in 1881 the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly was fully elected. If you really wonder what that means out there, that’s what Mr. Menicoche was referring to: 125 years ago we were a government. We were a big region, but that government was dissolved and in 1905 the Northwest Territories was elected. It was dissolved and it was replaced by an appointed...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m going to rise with a question in regard to what I talked about earlier in my Member’s statement, Mr. Speaker, which is the Quebec deal on parental leave and their ability and control over that program. Mr. Speaker, the federal government has basically kicked the discussion door wide open and said come talk to us, and I believe Quebec has their priorities in line with their people. I think we need to ensure that, as well, in a meaningful way. I think this government needs to make tracks to ensure we do have those priorities in line with the people....

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I am going to talk about the Quebec Parental Leave Program deal, Mr. Speaker, that has just been moving forward as of late. Mr. Speaker, I can truly tell you that I believe in my heart that there is no better job out there than being a parent. I think that there is no better federal policy out there than one that recognizes the importance of parents and, therefore, puts a priority on parents by giving them one year’s paid leave through their employment service to support that parental leave. Mr. Speaker, I have experience, and I know that nobody out there...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my next question for the Premier of our government truly is a straightforward one; maybe we’ll get a direct answer on this one. Mr. Speaker, in June of 2002 we had our government table the action plan for a social agenda. Where is this government’s action plan to addressing the need for multi-year funding to address the starving stability that’s out there for NGOs and volunteer organizations? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise again to ask questions about multi-year funding and my questions will be directed to the Premier of our government. Mr. Speaker, it’s my opinion that multi-year funding could be the hallmark of this Assembly instead of oil and gas and hydro. So with that question with regard to multi-year funding, is it a position or a policy of this government to create instability or uncertainty amongst our volunteers or in the NGO sector, or at the very least is it a position of our government, although maybe not written, to support our volunteer or NGO sector...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just one last comment, not a question. I wish to again reaffirm my support and I will be voting in favour of this. At this time I wish to acknowledge, I have been told through my friends in Ottawa, that the Premier/Minister of Aboriginal Affairs did a great job in front of both committees, of the House of Commons as well as the Senate. This emphasized that he charged this issue forward. I have heard it firsthand from witnesses in the gallery, who watched him at play. In other words, the Senators and the MPs didn’t have a chance with Joe in the chair. Thank you...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Minister. In that regard, picking up on the small example again, to help drive forward an ultimate clarity on this. If the Tlicho people wanted to, for example, change the days of school or the number of hours the students had to attend school, does that change once it’s acknowledged, whether it’s agreed upon in the long run, once it’s established in that area? Does that force the territorial side to adopt that rule, or just formally acknowledge that they have agreed? For example, the Tlicho people go to school less, again receiving the same quality...