Robert Hawkins

Mr. Speaker, people building houses in some particular cases do not require trade certification. So, in other words, the homeowner, or I should say potential homeowner, could be put at significant risk trying to fulfill part of their family’s dream of owning their own house. This government shows little interest in doing this. Mr. Speaker, it is the cost of taking a serious look at legislation that already exists. It is the cost of printing it on paper, which really isn’t that expensive. Mr. Speaker, it is not a big cost. Would the Minister commit to this House that he would investigate the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about the issue of lack of legislation to protect new homeowners. If their home is built and there are problems, in essence the new potential homeowner is the one left holding the bag and that risk. Mr. Speaker, with some thorough research, I was unable to find any policies that exist in our government that helps protect these types of people from these risks. I am going to ask the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, because he is also the Minister who would be in charge of consumer protection services so I think that...

Mr. Speaker, I can obviously see there is an excellent jousting match going on today. I will send one back. The Minister is correct; I am impatient because safety is at risk here. I wish he would realize that too. Mr. Speaker, consultation, we have to talk, we have to talk, we have to talk. We have eight out of 11 regions that are addressing this issue. I am not sure what more studying the Minister needs to do other than the fact that do we need to make a particular type of legislation that reflects northern values but still keeps safety in mind? Mr. Speaker, what signal is the Minister...

Apparently, I should say I hurt the Minister’s feeling over there. I didn’t realize he was all sensitive about this and maybe the job is too big for him...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today there’s still no cell phone ban legislation before this Assembly. There’s not even a legislative proposal coming forward that I’m aware of or anyone’s aware of, that I know. Mr. Speaker, the Minister still refuses to make the call on this issue. I’m not sure why; perhaps maybe just being stubborn. Mr. Speaker, the Minister’s leadership on this issue is so far behind I couldn’t even call him Johnny-come-lately. He just doesn’t care.

Mr. Speaker, I was watching TV the other day and Oprah Winfrey has even weighed in on this issue and she’s set up a blog...

Mr. Chairman, I didn’t really hear much about how they have been used and how many hours they have been used. I would also like to reiterate that question in that context as well as what specific services have we noticed a trend emerging from our usage on this type of product. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, does the Minister know how many of the 14 units are used and how often these 14 telehealth units are used? Furthermore, whom are they used by? Are they used just by Health or are they used by other departments in some conjunction agreement?

Mr. Speaker, that is one of the better answers that I have heard from this Minister in a while. Mr. Speaker, this Minister is wanting a show about working together and doing homework. At present, I have already started working on a private Member’s bill on this particular issue. When it gets finalized, I am going to bring it forward to my colleagues to see if they have input. I guess my question to the Minister directly is: would he like to co-author this bill and show some unanimity in this House where that side of the House, the government side works with Regular Members, put our citizens...

...to the issue of being challenged. Mr. Speaker, you know, gathering data is about as useful as collecting a single e-mail on this particular case. What does that actually mean in the real life of bringing forward legislation that reflects a ban for this type of product in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to raise the issue I was discussing in my Member’s statement today and it’s my concern that there is still no legislation, that I’m aware of, on the legislative agenda coming forward in this Legislature’s term.

Mr. Speaker, we have a little more than a year and a half left, and the question keeps getting asked to the Minister of Transportation, where is this legislation, where is the department on this legislation, where is the department on this issue.

So, Mr. Speaker, to the Minister of Transportation: does he expect any legislation coming forward...