Robert Hawkins

Mr. Speaker, we all know housing opportunities don't runneth over. So in other words, there's not an oversupply in housing opportunities certainly here in the capital or even in the regions and small communities. Mr. Speaker, what was the delay specifically as to get this initiative off the ground and into the construction phase? Because the last major report we had on this was through the Premier's office where they were trying to evict the squatting tenants, as they say, so they could start construction. So can we find out what the delay was. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the Assembly -- if I said "Assembly", I want to make sure I was clear, I meant the sitting just so we're on the record. If the Minister meant the Assembly in two and a half years, I think, you know, that's the definition of bureaucracy in the sense of -- Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit to bringing back a decision and direction before the end of this sitting? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we have a lot of buildings. I'm not here to go through them all; maybe we didn't name the Legislative Assembly, but we have the Joe Tobie Building, we have the Arthur Laing Building, etcetera, etcetera. We even had the Jan Stirling Building, and she was alive at the time it was named in her honour.

Mr. Speaker, I'm asking the Minister to show some courage, some fortitude on this one, and just make a decision today and say I will find a way to get this done, that we honour our former Commissioner in that type of method such as naming a building, either new or renewed, in his honour...

Well, first of all, Mr. Speaker, this is the first time I've heard of this Cabinet team that's been selling this. I've not seen in one year any result to that. Hence I'll ask the question, would the Premier be willing to form a working group with some Regular Members so we can help push this initiative collectively and territorially so we don't miss this billion dollar opportunity. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, listening is great, but it doesn't put food on the table. It doesn't put gas in the car. It doesn't buy Christmas presents, etcetera, Mr. Speaker. So I'm going to ask the Premier what type of campaign is the territorial government doing through his department of executive to launch and suggest this is the best investment opportunity for the North, but it's also the best investment for them to help meet their 2 percent requirements. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with 971 days left in this Assembly, time moves along fast. But I say to this government, we need to be relentless and unapologetic for our fight for Northerners for a better tomorrow and certainly much better than yesterday was. Time is ticking away, Mr. Speaker. As our GDP does slip away, we need the government to take a full court press - not the wait and see policy we've lived with over and over and over again. Kind of a Groundhog's Day, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we need action, boldness, commitment, Mr. Speaker, without apology.

Mr. Speaker, Premier Doug...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, respectfully to the Premier, I hear what he is saying clearly about a recommendation of the government, but I would also semi disagree in saying this is a rule of the Assembly that all bills come with a name, so it's more of an Assembly process. Even though, yes, you are the stewards of the normal bills and normal process, and if we pass -- well, at the rate this Assembly is going, what, half a dozen bills in four years? I don't know. Or less. The principle being it's true 99 percent will come from the government, but I don't view this is a government...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm glad to hear the Minister's now converting to the Minister of process because it seems to come out on almost every answer that the process will be led by the process once we're convened on the process.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister be more specific because the encampment was removed, in large part, out of the way months ago. Furthermore, I think there with a lone holdout still wouldn't have caused an issue. That said, there must have been a real reason that contract had not started. And I'm asking what's the delay because ultimately, Mr. Speaker, I want to know who...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Because I like asking questions to the Minister of housing, I think I'm going to ask another one.

It's been taking a long time, glacial pace, to get the Aspen Building project up and running. My understanding is the doors were just kicked open the other day, and the contractors start -- finally started work on that. Can the Minister start off our discussion today with what's actually happening and when's that project anticipated to be completed. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I don't want to chew up too much more time but it just seems like, well, we're going to examine this. I mean, we could be in the -- we could be in the 22nd Assembly from the sounds of the way that the government's moving so quickly on this. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be willing to commit to bring back a decision and direction before the end of this current sitting showing that we're done talking about this idea and be willing to make a decision? That would be grateful to me and an immense amount of Northerners who would appreciate this gesture. Thank you.