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Track Robert

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Crucial Fact

  • His favourite word is know.

MLA for Yellowknife Centre

Won his last election, in 2023, with 42% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Question 136-20(1): Student Financial Assistance February 28th, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Most of that answer was certainly acceptable. The second half, less good. I'm certainly going to say that.

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be willing to do an analysis on how many people actually uptake on the full potential $60,000 and weigh that in the sense of information and balance that against those who go beyond the need of the 60,000? So in other words, are all students accessing the full amount, and can we do analysis over the last two years? And I think we shouldn't go too much further than that because spend a lot of time and money doing it. Thank you.

Question 136-20(1): Student Financial Assistance February 28th, 2024

Mr. Speaker, we're not really talking about a lot of students here. We're literally talking anywhere from 10 to 50 students who need to go beyond that $60,000 cap, Mr. Speaker. What's the Minister's apprehension, really, at the end of the day for expanding the cap? Because we know it's not a lot of students, and she would have the numbers of how many exact students would be attending. So what's her apprehension? Thank you.

Question 136-20(1): Student Financial Assistance February 28th, 2024

Mr. Speaker, I didn't know that the 19th Assembly could fetter the decisions of the 20th Assembly in this regard, Mr. Speaker. I mean, that was the old Minister. We don't have any use for that old Minister. We want the new Minister to take some leadership around that. So, Mr. Speaker, would the new Minister of education be willing to go back and address this cap?

Question 136-20(1): Student Financial Assistance February 28th, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm excited to ask the next batch of questions to the Minister of education.

Under the Student Financial Assistance Act, section 10(3)(a), so that doesn't mean much to the public, but what it is is it specifically points out to the cap of SFA provided to Northerners attending post-secondary school, Mr. Speaker, which happens to be $60,000 in total. That's your total cap of what you can take.

So, Mr. Speaker, recognizing the costs and ever changing needs of Northerners seeking education and recognizing the fact that we want to support Northerners to get education and even go on to graduate education such as become lawyers, doctors, etcetera, and come back here, Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be willing to address the cap by raising it to what would be considered reasonable and modern amounts reflective of the needs of students attending post-secondary school? Thank you.

Question 130-20(1): Possible Department of National Defence Base in the Northwest Territories February 28th, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the Minister able to or willing to share whatever the sales pitch and package they're presenting to the department of national defence to make sure we get all Northerners on side for this type of infrastructure investment and job creation that could be very important and critical to our depressed economic economy when we need it most. Thank you.

Question 130-20(1): Possible Department of National Defence Base in the Northwest Territories February 28th, 2024

So, Mr. Speaker, what is the department doing in the sense of selling this as an opportunity other than saying pick us? Thank you.

Question 130-20(1): Possible Department of National Defence Base in the Northwest Territories February 28th, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, that's certainly good news. I'd like to hear what the department officials are doing or where are they anticipating the potential base, if that's part of the conversation, could be located in the North. As I said, I'd be happy for it to be in Yellowknife but that said I recognize opportunities it may make better sense in Inuvik. So I'd like to hear what the Minister has to say. Thank you.

Question 130-20(1): Possible Department of National Defence Base in the Northwest Territories February 28th, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement today I put it out the department of national defence is looking for some place in the North to house some of their F35 planes, Mr. Speaker. They're buying new -- they're getting delivery in two years, Mr. Speaker. So my question is for the Minister of Infrastructure. And I'd like to know what the department is doing in recognition that the national defence department of Canada is shopping around for a new base. Is the department aware of this, and what are they doing with that knowledge? Thank you.

Member's Statement 140-20(1): Northwest Territories Capital Investment and Labour Force Statistics February 28th, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to first bring my Member's statement today about one of my -- and begin by acknowledging one of my favorite sections in the GNWT. That's the NWT bureau of stats, my goodness. I don't know how I'd get along without them, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, one of the recent updates talked about the capital investments in the Northwest Territories and its decline by 11.2 percent. Now, that adds up to almost 900 -- $900 million to the North. But the bad news doesn't start -- stop there, unfortunately, Mr. Speaker. The NWT labour force activity has showed continual drops. In other words, our unemployment rates continue to increase. So, Mr. Speaker, what's happening in the 83 days since this Cabinet's taken office?

Now, I'm not saying they directly relate but one could say it's coincidental.

Mr. Speaker, the only person who -- only section in Canada that has a worse employment sector than us is the Yukon. So, Mr. Speaker, are people giving up, or are they just leaving? I don't know. But, Mr. Speaker, sometimes in our problems therein lies the solution. The Government of Canada has said publicly before, in the summer of 2023 has said, hey, we need military bases for these 88 new F35 planes they want to put around Canada. And the delivery starts in two years, Mr. Speaker. That's two years. It's very close. Not far away.

Mr. Speaker, the defence department wants to establish three bases, whether they're going to renew old ones or build or develop new ones. So they want to put one in eastern Canada, one in western Canada, and guess what? They're shopping around for the North saying hey, we'd like to put one somewhere up there. Mr. Speaker, this means new federal infrastructure dollars could hit the Northwest Territories if we did it right. New dollars are good for investment, good for people. It creates an economy. It helps stimulate the North and the activity. Again, going back to the minus $900 million going into our current economy. Mr. Speaker, we cannot miss out on this particular opportunity.

Now, I can tell you the airport plan for years in Yellowknife has reconsidered options about redeveloping and extending its runway. Is this the right opportunity for Yellowknife? Well, maybe. Maybe not. I would hope so. But that said, Inuvik is another prime location this airport could go to support the military and their development and their action in protecting Canadians, all Canadians throughout the North. Mr. Speaker, don't let this opportunity fly over us and miss Northerners a genuine opportunity to stimulate our economy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters February 28th, 2024

I'll gladly accept that update. Thank you.