Robert Hawkins

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...

I almost called a point of order on myself.

---Laughter

Almost. Mr. Speaker, I don’t know what to say. If I were to nail the Premier’s feet down, he would still out dance me. He would still out dance me, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have people telling me their organizations are struggling because they put application after application in every year and they are waiting for the certainty at the 11th hour of March 31st.

Mr. Speaker, this government can shift with the times. This government can work with these organizations. This government has that mandate. We can address it. Mr. Speaker, can...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate what the Premier just said, but the other day we were talking about multi-year agreements with the Finance Minister with regard to the City of Yellowknife. The MACA Minister told me the FAA Act handcuffs us for these types of discussions. I am not really sure I am getting a clear answer from three different Ministers.

Mr. Speaker, we can negotiate with these things. Let’s open up the door, let’s create a one-window approach. Who would this Premier suggest for all of these organizations to approach, yes, with the proviso, that the money is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a heavy booklet here that’s double sided. There are 40 line items a page and there are about 10 pages here of groups that we make go through hoops and wringers every year to sign up for their funding, and they only get the phone call at the 11th hour on year-to-year funding. They have to do proposal after proposal every year. This creates instability and they can’t hire workers. My question for the Premier is will he look at addressing the problem with multi-year funding, as outlined in the social agenda tabled in this House in June of 2002, and address this...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you for being very clear on your support, Mr. Premier. Mr. Speaker, I believe that these NGOs provide the frontline service that our government does not provide. Does this Premier have a position in this government that these NGOs provide a significant role to the social fabric of the Northwest Territories that the government is not offering in basic service? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m certainly glad to finally see the Cotton Ball Club has taken their cotton balls out of their ears today. There were lots of cotton balls there. Okay.

Mr. Speaker, I’m rising today to talk about multi-year funding once again. I brought this issue to the floor of the House back in October last year, and I’m bringing it again because of the news article in today’s Yellowknifer regarding stabilized funding needed for non-profit groups. Mr. Speaker, there’s one quote out of this that I think is critical to emphasize before I continue, which talks about the struggling NGOs...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I won’t be long; however, I have to stress I was very pleased, at the very end of question period, with Mr. Krutko’s willingness to work toward developing possible policies. His willingness is much appreciated on this side of the House, at least from my perspective.

Mr. Speaker, I spoke very clearly about the concerns we have in parts of my riding, and I’m sure they apply to many other ridings, that our seniors are really struggling to live in an environment that shows them dignity. We have people in our communities who have disabilities, who have trouble simply reaching...