Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Commissioner recommends that a link be provided from the Legislative Assembly web site to the directory of ATIPP coordinators as it is currently difficult to find on the Justice and GNWT web sites. She further recommends that a paper directory be made available throughout the NWT.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As in previous reports, the Commissioner recommends the GNWT take the initiative to raise information and privacy issues in devolution discussions and with aboriginal governments in order to encourage them to include some form of regulation within their governance structures. She states that although there are likely to be cultural differences on many information and privacy issues, all peoples have the right to an open government, which requires access to records, and the right to expect a certain level of privacy.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For the sixth year in a row, the Commissioner’s report speaks to the lack of information and privacy legislation for municipal governments.

The GNWT has identified concerns about the impact on day-to-day municipal operations and administration, costs, training and capacity as reasons why municipal information and privacy legislation cannot proceed at this time.

Municipal governments collect a substantial amount of personal information from residents and hold a great deal of information of interest to the public. The need for openness and transparency applies as much to...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My apologies. I move that committee recommends that the Premier, Ministers and Financial Management Board make public statements supporting the principles of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and send clear messages to the public service about the importance of open and transparent government and the need to grant access to information unless there is a clear and compelling reason to do so.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stated in my Member’s statement today, I would be tabling documents regarding the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act and I have three documents. The first one would be described as a summary of the act. The second document I have to table is the actual act itself from Saskatchewan. The third one is a presentation the Saskatchewan Justice department gave to the Yukon government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this year I talked about the need for citizen judges here in the Northwest Territories. In Yellowknife there’s an annual tradition; on July 1st we have new Canadians sworn in, but through further investigation I found out that there are only 19 citizenship judges across Canada and recently I found out that we won’t be having our citizenship ceremony here on July 1st, which has become quite a tradition here in Yellowknife. I’d like to know what the Minister is doing to investigate this problem about us not having swearing in ceremonies July 1st. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement was about the denial of what I would call natural justice. I have called into question a regulation that is in writing that our bureaucrats are following. Mr. Speaker, just because it is in writing, it doesn’t make it morally correct. Could the Minister of EC and E explain to this House today and the public that is listening about the fairness of the policy where, at no fault of the client, they have been denied their rightful support payments? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recognizing the difficulty of getting a citizenship judge here in the Northwest Territories, I approached the concept of getting our honourable Commissioner to become one of the citizenship ceremony officials. I approached honourable Whitford and he liked the idea. I brought his name forward to the department and I see Minister Dent has written a letter in support to our federal Minister, Monte Solberg. Again, recognizing the problem that I’ve got and the information from the MP’s office, which is they will not be holding a citizenship ceremony, could I get the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Finally, I would like to seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and have Committee Report 2-15(5) moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration on Friday, June 2, 2006. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess there are a couple of ways I can approach this. The first option is to let him know that he got an e-mail from his constituent that I was sent to, as well, so I'm surprised he wouldn't know about the regulations, referring to that e-mail and this problem about the lack of retro pay. So that being said, maybe I can, as an olive branch approach, maybe we can take the Minister up on his offer. I'll bring the matter to his office if he's willing today to look into it further and deal with this problem. That will be all. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.