Robert Hawkins

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

No, that's fine. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, when people in the public are talking about this particular matter and when it's been investigated but there's no result in one way or the other whether the matter has been assessed and found not wanting or the matter has been assessed and found wanting and further steps, there's no public airing or clarification on this particular issue. So to be clear, Mr. Speaker -- and the last point I want to hone in on -- no one wants any names issued in this particular case, so that's not what I'm after. I'm saying how do we clear the air by ending the...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

No, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister said there was an investigation, if I heard on there, because she can't comment, so I'm asking what skills do they bring to this -- the person doing the process. So do they have the skills -- sorry? So I'm asking about their qualifications to be able to identify the issues as pointed out that could be referred to the RCMP.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, or I should say Mr. Speaker Whitford on the side, the way to massage, give the Member another chance.

Mr. Speaker, the issue here is that I want to make sure that -- is there any -- are there any barriers, policy barriers, Mr. Speaker, stopping the department from engaging the RCMP to join any potential investigation that she foresees? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Mr. Speaker, in the Child and Family Services Act, it relatively seems silent on the area of when it's duty to report to the RCMP. There's been serious concerns brought up with respect to human rights, abuse, and neglect of youth. What threshold does it take to engage the RCMP on these particular matters of urgency? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This July an email was sent to the Department of Health and Social Services. Seven GNWT employees were included on that email. One of them in particular, Mr. Speaker, was the CEO of NT Health and Social Services so I know the department has it at the toppest -- sorry, at the top of the highest officials we have.

Mr. Speaker, I won't name the particular facility, but it was highlighting something very serious. The subject matter in part reads: Urgent, child and youth safety concerns at... I won't fill in the rest. And the email then begins, Mr. Speaker -- and I take a...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for the Sahtu, that Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, be read for the third time. And, Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Mr. Speaker, when you're a funding agent and you're doing an investigation under the public guise of the public service in the process of -- you know, that falls into the child and family services area, don't you think there's some level of responsibility for clearing the air at the end of an investigation? Would the Minister comment on that? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's one further area I wish to raise with respect to my earlier statement and my questions, and it's built around transparency. And first, I want to highlight and acknowledge the effort to put something in writing by a concerned citizen. It is a difficult undertaking putting your name on something, forwarding information that you believe to be honest and true, and I want to acknowledge that. But at the same token, as well this matter's being discussed in the fray of public behind the scenes and those people who will be questioned is this true or untrue...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 30)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate the Minister getting towards the answer which was specifically when, but maybe I didn't use the words specifically and hence that was the opening she used.

Mr. Speaker, once the breach is noted, what does accountability look like or should we expect from a Minister who, as she says, they continuously monitor the situation? So in other words, her fingers must be constantly on the pulse of what the debt looks like. So what type of public accountability should the legislature expect that she's now going to Ottawa over this breach of policy? Thank you.