Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister willing to work on this. I would ask in the context of urgency and zeal, because I mean, it's burger season, you know. So I don't want anyone in trouble. That's why I would does the Minister to find a way to pull it back as reasonably as possible and would she be willing to make sure that this is done sooner than later because we don't want generous gifts to the community penalized by kind people helping others. Thank you.
Robert Hawkins

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MLA for Yellowknife Centre
Won his last election, in 2023, with 42% of the vote.
Statements in the House
Question 757-20(1): Health Permit Requirements May 29th, 2025
Question 757-20(1): Health Permit Requirements May 29th, 2025
Mr. Speaker, when I was speaking to this generous gift to the community, the purveyor of it, that is, Mr. Speaker, they told me that they were cornered at the Yellowknife trade show the week before when they were giving out popcorn to people in the community and they -- the health inspector cited where's your hand wash station, you know, and they went on this long list. Mr. Speaker, simply put, would the Minister find a better way to -- for us to work through these community generous gifts without turning them into permitting exercises. And by the way, the permit's free, which it's just an administrative loop and process. Thank you.
Question 757-20(1): Health Permit Requirements May 29th, 2025
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my Member's statement, we're running out of time so I'm going to try to squeeze a couple extra questions in here through this process.
Mr. Speaker, I was just simply gobsmacked when I heard that NGOs and community groups have to now get a health permit to have a barbecue. And, Mr. Speaker, could the Minister maybe enlighten how this process came along and what are we fixing? Thank you.
Question 748-20(1): Northern United Place Energy Efficiency Renewal Project May 29th, 2025
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to freshen up the memory of this particular House, it was housing was supported through a move forward on $41.6 million, Mr. Speaker. Ooh, that's a lot of money. Mr. Speaker, I'm asking is there any way to tap into that financial opportunity temporarily to support this mult-imillion dollar initiative they got all on their own and they're going to pay for it all on their own. And, Mr. Speaker, lastly, they've done this for 50 years without interruption, and they've served this community well. Can the Minister find a way to make this happen? Thank you.
Question 748-20(1): Northern United Place Energy Efficiency Renewal Project May 29th, 2025
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At first, it may appear like a layout of cash but it's not. It's just a guarantee, and the GNWT will get its money back because this is a 50-year organization that is cruising to work.
Mr. Speaker, what communication has the Minister, through her department obviously, had with the Yellowknife Community Association in the context of NUP about what they're doing and how they're trying to meet their deadline of tomorrow May 30th? Thank you.
Question 748-20(1): Northern United Place Energy Efficiency Renewal Project May 29th, 2025
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in an unusual circumstance here, I gave the Minister a head's up on this particular one, so the Minister of housing won't be surprised on my question because it's so important we can't miss this opportunity.
Mr. Speaker, the question is about helping Northern United Place on their renewal project. They have obtained loans and processes all on their own, and all they require is housing to support them as a backstop to help underwrite the loans, the million dollars of loans they are potentially receiving. So, Mr. Speaker, would the Minister direct her department before the May 30th deadline lapses, and they miss this energy efficiency renewal project. Thank you.
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery May 29th, 2025
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ever so briefly, I want to recognize and acknowledge all the incredible interpreters we have here. I would certainly say to some degree they are all my favourites; however, Mr. Speaker, I have one favorite who is just a little more favorite, and that happens to be Ms. Sarah Cleary. She's here, and she interprets Dene Kede, and I'm certainly grateful to call her a friend as well a constituent, and I appreciate the hard work she does here every day we sit. Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker.
Member's Statement 692-20(1): Outstanding Issues in the Spring Session of the Legislative Assembly May 29th, 2025
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If we had more session days, I would have liked to have used my time or opportunity to talk about NWT Housing and how they could get behind the NUP Renewal Project where they supply 125 residential affordable units to people desperate for affordable housing. They're doing it at a low carbon update, and all it would take is some backing to support their initiative. And by the way, for the record, the deadline's tomorrow to get behind that, for the Minister.
Mr. Speaker, if we had more time, I would like to talk about the health Minister and how she could get behind all Alzheimer's Alberta-NWT, where they're connecting Northerners with solutions on trying to work through their problems at zero cost to this government, virtually that is, but with a little support that relationship would go a long way, but only if I had more time, Mr. Speaker.
If I had more time, Mr. Speaker, we'd be talking about with the health Minister why in goodness sakes are we trying to act like Toronto where we have health permits now required for community barbecues. I mean, my goodness, when we become Toronto, we've got some serious reflection to start considering.
Mr. Speaker, with time ticking away, if I had more time, Mr. Speaker, I'd be talking about Avens and why the government continues to ignore the fact that it's subsidizing an NGO -- or sorry, an NGO is subsidizing the GNWT. Mr. Speaker, this squabble's all over emergency pay. It's not as if they bought cars and new paintings and yadda, yadda, yadda. It's about giving danger pay for people who took care of 57 of our most vulnerable people. But if I had more time, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, if I had more time in this session, I'd be talking about the envoy. Boy, I don't get tired of that. You know, the Premier's buddy, appointed to a particular position for $440,000. But we're running out of time, Mr. Speaker, to talk about an employee who has been -- you know, former employee who was then, again, a former employee and continued to be a former employee and then brought back for reasons unknown, Mr. Speaker. But we don't have enough time.
Mr. Speaker, and lastly, if I had more session days, which I would certainly love, I'd like to spend some time, again, talking about housing issues, about the barrier-free need of housing in the NWT. Mr. Speaker, I think the LHOs, the local LHOs, should be the stewards of these. When we're investing millions of dollars, we want the right partners in place who can maintain, manage, and provide safe environments because the last thing we want to do is avoid another bailout or a crisis, especially when we can see one coming. But like I said, Mr. Speaker, if I had more time. Thank you.
Question 743-20(1): Shelter Encampments in Yellowknife May 28th, 2025
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not really hearing the government wants to do anything other than wait. Are they going -- is the plan to wait and sit this out, or is the plan to actually engage and try to put better options on the table so businesses, the community, will feel safe again, Mr. Speaker, and a responsible place for them to go could be quickly identified on NWT lands. Will the Minister -- or sorry, will the Premier step up, maybe even meet with these people, and to have this conversation? Thank you.
Question 743-20(1): Shelter Encampments in Yellowknife May 28th, 2025
Mr. Speaker, what is the plan to communicate this to Members and the public, and is there a way to get this sorted out before the weekend? Because we have them steeling fences now, and it's been reported to the RCMP. I have the file number. Mr. Speaker, is there a way to get this into action before the weekend before more destruction and safety become compromised? Thank you.