Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to use this opportunity, through my Member’s statement, to bring forward a concern that has been bothering some constituents of mine. Mr. Speaker, I can’t name the person because this person happens to be a youth, but a family has called me on numerous occasions over the past year. It concerns their dealings with the Department of Health and Social Services about getting their child into treatment.

Mr. Speaker, we have a young northerner here who has FAE. This person is seriously at risk. It is time that something gets done. This family has been trying...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services and it is going to be quite a frank question. When will this family receive the services needed for this child? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to take a moment to thank the honourable Member for Nahendeh; apparently there were two reports to read in and he gave me the longer of the two.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I would like to read the review of the Languages Commissioner’s Annual Report 2003-2004.

The Official Languages Act was passed by the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in 1984. The act guarantees equal status for the use of Canada’s two official languages for members of the public using government programs and services. The act also officially recognized the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today with a question for the Premier, the Honourable Joseph Handley.

Mr. Speaker, what is the total cost to date that the GNWT has invested: in studying environmental impacts, feasibility, or costs; analysis development of any business plans; contributions to other parties involved; or, finally, by any other means that are directly related to the construction of both the Taltson and Bear River dam projects? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier, the Honourable Joseph Handley. My question is with regards to where the implementation strategy is for the vision for the arts. During the business plan, the Department of RWED, as well as the Department of Education, had requested our support for these projects. So without giving us details, I am asking the Premier where the implementation of the vision for the arts strategy is. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me a warm feeling that the Minister wishes to be so accommodating by looking into that, so I would thank him. Mr. Speaker, recognizing the difficult hardship and the fact that some of my constituents, as well as constituents of all of us, have to take sometimes up to a month to get renewal if they happen to forget to renew their licence in the proper time, would the Minister be able to give me his firm assurance today he will direct his department to put people ahead who have to go through the full process again and receive ultimate priority in getting their...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have a couple of people to recognize. First, one of my most feisty seniors in Yellowknife Centre, I could call him the honourable Ed Jeske.

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I also would like to recognize two others: Lydia Bardak and Nancy Galway. Nancy is the coordinator of the programs for the John Howard Society. She is leaving the North to return to Labrador as a social worker. Ms. Bardak is taking over part of the transition of the John Howard Society. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mr. Speaker, the point I’m getting now to is the fact that a person who had their driver’s licence expire beyond the grace period had to wait a month before they could retake their exam. Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to finish my Member’s statement? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and it was not my intention to go into the details of what was discussed during the business plan, however, we have been asked to support a plan that they have promised to deliver and the Department of RWED had promised to deliver this summer. The Department of Education has been responding and that’s why I am directing my question to the Premier rather than trying to nail down two Ministers by them pointing at each other. So, therefore, I reaffirm to the Premier – it’s almost like a double jeopardy here – I reaffirm to the Premier, when will this art strategy be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Minister could elaborate on possibly trying to accommodate, recognizing that there are single parents out there who still have to deliver children to school and pick up groceries. As I pointed out earlier, we still have people out there who do drive for a living. So maybe if the Minister could let me know on how he plans to look into this problem by trying to accommodate as I have mentioned. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.