Robert Hawkins

That’s certainly good news. I’m glad to hear that it sounds like we’re making headway on this particular file. This particular group that the Minister is able to form, which I have to admit this is public news now for everyone, is he able to describe what mandate this particular group has? Do they have the power to make the suggestion and provide a direction to the Minister of Health to build a treatment centre in the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the people who solved the technical problem.

It gives me great pleasure to recognize some of the people who have already been recognized, but I think it’s important to highlight their contributions to the territory by mentioning them here.

I’d like to always recognize Mr. Anthony W.J. Whitford, a personal friend and long-time friend of everyone in this building.

Mr. Speaker, Kim Doyle is now the new executive director of YK Seniors, and she served me very well as a constituency assistant. With her is Jeff Renaud, who hails from, I believe, Victoria, if...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have three things I would like to table. The first document I would like to table is a Members’ Code of Conduct with the WSCC Workers’ Appeals Tribunal. This is in response to a particular question I raised in the House in May, where research found no conflict of interest policy at the time, but that has been since corrected. I would like to thank Mr. Colin Baile for his assistance and appreciating this particular problem at this time.

The second item I would like to table and the third item are related, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table a letter to me from Minister...

I’m talking about a particular mandate that this group would be empowered with. If they decide that the treatment problem is significant enough, as I’ve been saying for nine years, that people have said over the last six weeks during the municipal elections, people said over four weeks of the last territorial election, that half the population of the Northwest Territories is expecting some type of response on this particular issue. If they say a treatment centre is needed, what is the Minister of Health and Social Services willing to do?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked yet again about the concern of the lack of a treatment centre here in the Northwest Territories. I’m committed behind this problem in such a way that it doesn’t have to happen here in Yellowknife; it can happen anywhere that it can be properly resourced to treat people who have problems. Yes, as the Member for Yellowknife, it would be nice if it was here, but I care about the problem more than where it shows up. That’s what’s truly important. I’ll make a deal with the Minister of Health today. I’ll stop nagging about this issue if...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With 1,082 days and approximately 18 hours left in our term, there is still time for the Minister of Health to finally do the right thing. What is the right thing, you might want to ask. Well, it is still time to address the need for a treatment centre for people who are addicted to hard drugs such as crack, crystal meth and even prescription drug abuse. I am confident that I have raised this issue alone at least six or seven times in this term alone. I have mentioned this particular problem countless times in the last term of the 16th and even in the 15th Assembly, and...

Has the Department of Finance ever examined something like this type of tax credit such as the example I’ve given, a film tax credit, and furthermore, what cost does it actually affect the Government of the Northwest Territories? I mean, are we talking about fifty cent dollars? Are we talking 75, 25? I’m trying to get a sense of an example of how much it costs and affects the government’s books. Thank you.

I’ll decline. The Minister answered the question satisfactorily.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today in my Member’s statement I talked about a perceived or real process problem of potential conflict. Perceived or real are about the same in this type of business. It’s about the integrity of our particular system. The folks I’m talking about in my examples, I know are all good and honourable people and they certainly work to do the best job that they can. My questions will be directed to the Minister responsible for WSCC.

Knowing that the Governance Council is well within its authority to make rules and procedures regarding conflict of interest, and with respect to...

Mr. Speaker, I am completely surprised, but I am happy to help.

The following guidelines were established for the pilot project.

The Assembly would maintain the current process of paper petitions.

Electronic petitions could be used on their own or could be combined with the traditional paper petition.

The electronic petitions would resemble the Assembly website as closely as possible.

The Assembly would approve the format of the electronic petition before it was posted on-line.

An acceptable petition must contain a proper and respectful request of the NWT government or Minister to take or refrain...