Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Madam Chair. For my benefit, could the Minister go through significant timelines again, I stress again, the day of the issue of the RFP, the day the RFP closed, the day the RFPs were evaluated and then they decided to enter into the next step? Can I get those timeline dates, please, Madam Chair?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I say thank you to all my colleagues. Mr. Speaker, out there we have NGOs dealing with mounds of paperwork when they should be dealing with social issues they are signed onto. They should be doing program delivery, which they are supposed to do.

Mr. Speaker, long-term multiyear funding would provide stability for these organizations rather than getting them to deal with the stress that is created fighting for year-to-year funding. Mr. Speaker, this is not good for these organizations.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I will say where is the hallmark of this Assembly? Long...

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

The Minister’s statement for the NWT Housing Corporation will be moved into Committee of the Whole, Minister’s Statement 68-15(3).

Mr. Speaker, I would like to move the NWT Housing Corporation Minister’s statement into Committee of the Whole. Thank you.

Thank you. I guess from a Member's point of view, it certainly would have been nice to deal with this issue in the May-June session. I can appreciate that FMBS may have screened it out, but this is a decision before the House and I would have thought that hearing some of the timelines of the organization in May, how we were able to get our numbers together for the bodies portion, the workers portion for the May session. I find that almost kind of strange not to have been brought to us in May. I’m sure there is a reason why it wouldn’t have been brought to Members for a full discussion...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess maybe my next stage is more a comment. I just find it very unusual. I am in favour of the expenditure. I’m in favour of the clinic. I’m in favour of it in almost every sense, except for the special warrant process. The special warrant process doesn’t provide me any comfort. Just looking and trying to understand some of the timelines and the fact that this wasn’t brought to the House, it feels like it kind of slipped under the radar before it was brought to Members. I don’t agree with arguing it on the principle of the costs. I think the principle I’m...

Thank you, Madam Chair. What were the timelines of acquisition of this particular space that was in the RFP? In the RFP, I suspect there would have been some type of timeline stated. If not, could I get some understanding? I assume no government would go out and RFP a space expecting to get it that afternoon after closing of the tender. What were the timelines? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just so I have my timelines correct, the approval from FMBS for the special warrant was signed, I guess in the official sense, for the $115,000 officially on August 22nd, which is a Sunday. Can I get clarification on that? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I’m going to seek clarification on a couple of things. I guess the first one is a concern that the territorial government went and pointed their finger and demanded that particular space. If I could have clarification from the Minister representing the government on this issue. Did this government, vis-à-vis whatever way they go about doing business, up and point at the space and say that they wanted this particular space? If you could supply some clarification on that issue, therefore, we can put that one to rest. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to talk about year-to-year and multiyear funding. Mr. Speaker, first I would like to talk about the fact that in June of 2002, a social agenda was tabled in this House, it’s Social Agenda: A Draft for People of the NWT. Some of the recommendations out of that talked about year-to-year funding and it was one of the primary key recommendations, as the way I see it.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a small quote from an open letter from then-Premier Kakfwi at the time. He mentioned in his letter: “The working group has worked hard over the last eight months...