Wendy Bisaro

Thanks to the Minister for that information, and I guess I’ll just have to wait for it to come in the fullness of time, as another Minister would say. I appreciate the fact that there’s going to be input from the public. I think that’s a good thing, but recently the NWT Association of Communities passed a resolution at their meeting in Hay River in which they said they urge the Members of the NWT Legislative Assembly to move forward with legislation prohibiting the use of cell phones and hand-held communication devices, excluding two-way radios, while operating a motor vehicle. I guess I’d...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have some questions for the Minister of Transportation as a follow-up to my statement earlier today. I mentioned a report that the department was working on and I understand that the department’s report has been finished and I think it has also gone to committee. I’d like to know from the Minister whether or not that’s accurate and if that’s the case, will this report be made available to the public and how soon. Thank you.

I really need support on this issue, obviously. Without wide publicity as well as enforcement, the policy isn’t much good.

Mr. Speaker, some months ago the Minister of Transportation advised the House that the department was reviewing and analyzing the issue of distracted driving and possible changes to the Motor Vehicle Act. I am hopeful that that report will recommend changes that bring us closer to roads which are safe from drivers using hand-held devices. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a number of comments on this document. It’s a very complicated process that has been undertaken and I understand that the Minister of ENR, who is our responsible Minister as described in this process, is in a difficult position. He’s bound by several acts and the very contradictory provisions in them in regard to the whole Joint Review Panel process.

The Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act certainly does not consider the animal that we call consensus government and that’s made it very difficult, I think, and it hampers the Minister’s, our NWT Minister’s...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on Thursday, May 20, 2010, it shall be adjourned until Thursday, October 14, 2010;

AND FURTHER, that any time prior to October 14, 2010, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and the Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Tuesday, May 25th I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on Thursday, May 20, 2010, it shall be adjourned until Thursday, October 14, 2010; and further, that any time prior to October 14, 2010, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and the Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may...

I don’t think I heard an answer to the questions, but that’s alright.

I did mention in my statement, I quoted a GNWT policy. I have a question for the Minister. I’d like to know whether or not he’s aware of this policy. The department has a public education campaign on distracted driving, I believe. I’d like know if the Minister will be publicizing and promoting this GNWT policy as part of the department’s distracted driving public education campaign. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Minister of Transportation, please.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, have a Page that I’d like to recognize for his hard work: Branden Horn from Range Lake School here in Yellowknife. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is my point, that we do not have a definition and there are many across the country. I don’t believe that we can develop a definition by discussion. I would like to ask the Premier again if we could have a working group to identify a definition of poverty first and then develop a discussion paper to try and figure out the strategy. Thank you.