Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to talk about a couple of transportation issues that have been on the horizon of that industry.

Across Canada there have been a number of concerns emerging that are under public discussion, which are all about cellphones and smoking while driving in vehicles with children present. The issue really is about the public debate and the fact that there needs to be a public debate on these types of issues for transportation here in the North.

I’ve had a number of constituents come forward through e-mail to talk to me about what our government is doing on these issues...

I thank the Minister for that. I’ll certainly be more than willing to accept that copy and review the detail further myself.

I find that one of the challenges is…. As an example, I have a constituent who goes to the Yellowknife Housing Authority, and they just don’t have any — not necessarily barrier-free — disabled units; they just don’t have anything available. I don’t think what they’re looking for is the all-inclusive barrier-free unit where every door is fixed, whether the fixtures are changed, whether the ramp is there or not. They’re looking for accessible living, and we just don’t have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that was well said, and I don’t think the motion could have been written any better. There’s only one aspect that I’d like to highlight, which is housing for the disabled. It’s a concern and a passion of mine to make sure that we have appropriate housing for those in need. Although this motion doesn’t speak to it specifically, we know that this funding goes to help people in that area.

It’s a principle I really believe in, Mr. Speaker. In the past I’ve had the chance to work with Mr. Krutko, when he was Housing Minister, to help bring better living, a better...

Mr. Chairman, I’m trying to get an understanding as to the overall impact, not to revisit the motion. I’m just trying to get clarity as to what impact that will have. As I understand it, that impact, now that the decision has been made…. Again, I’m not trying to revisit it, but I’m just trying to get a sense of whether there were active positions rolled up in that, and if there were, how many. Again, if there were, where were they located? That’s all. It’s for clarification.

Mr. Chairman, yesterday a motion was put on the floor to delete ten additional court services positions. I’m just trying to do some follow-up as to understanding the impact of that motion.

I’ve been led to believe that motion actually deleted some active positions that already exist, as opposed to some brand-new positions. I’m just trying to get some clarity on whether that is or is not the case. Furthermore, if it actually did, can I get the location of where those positions are?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I always like to do on Friday, I like to make a special mention of the fact that it’s Red Friday so we can support our troops.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and injury to children of all ages. But those aged between four and nine years old are currently the most vulnerable. Canadian data shows that the death rate from car crashes has dropped in all other age groups, but not for the children between the ages of four and nine. Data also tells us that the majority of Canadian children aged four to nine are riding in seat belts, which puts them at...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to now move a committee motion. I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Justice immediately undertake a facility review that will outline the present condition of the existing correctional facilities and future space requirements for the correctional system.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have, in this building, probably the lone experience of actually being a former employee of the corrections system. I used to work at the old corrections centre as a guard for a number of years, and I had some experience in many of the areas through administration and whatnot. I know from my experience of working at the centre that a lot of inmates are there due to certain problems, and the reason they’re there a lot of times has to do with alcohol. Then we end up having subsequent problems that fall out of the issue, that continue to go on and spiral.

The point I’m...

Mr. Chairman, there’s no intention to re-debate the motion. I’m just trying to get a sense of what the impact was.

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. I seek unanimous consent to go back to page 7-29.