Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as per my Member’s statement earlier today, I said I believed that the Department of RWED has misinterpreted their contractual obligation with the City of Yellowknife. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of RWED, when did his department cancel this contract with the City of Yellowknife and did they provide notice by the January 1st deadline as required in the contract? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk to you about an issue of lifeguard services at the Fred Henne Territorial Park this upcoming summer. I should truly say the lack thereof of services. The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development has said that they will no longer contract with the City of Yellowknife to provide lifeguarding services so there will be no lifeguards this summer at the Long Lake beach.

Mr. Speaker, as I see it, Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development has misinterpreted their contract with the City of Yellowknife, which I will...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister, for your answer. Mr. Speaker, my last question I believe at this time is will the Minister take any additional steps or actions to ensure the protection of the NWT citizens from convicted sex offenders during the delay of the implementation of this act? Is he willing to take any additional steps? Thank you.

Thank you again, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the federal Sex Offender Information Registry Act passed third reading in the Senate, and received Royal Assent on April 1st of this year. Mr. Speaker, when it comes into force, the act will require sex offenders in the NWT to register with police in designated centres. Their personal information will be recorded, and their whereabouts will be monitored for the well-being and safety of the NWT residents. According to Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, the Sex Offender Information Registry Act will come into force in the fall of 2004...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am only concerned about the obligation of safety, whereas the territorial government may see no smoking as a personal obligation, yet the territorial government engages in non-smoking policies and safety policies. Last year was an anomaly and we pointed out the uniqueness of it, whereas qualified lifeguards were not available. This year they are available, so I would like to think that the territorial government is trying to ensure the lifeguards are there. I am asking for the Minister to ensure that he will be there contractually to help support through financial...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will first say I noted the willingness to talk to the City of Yellowknife in the Minister’s voice there, so I may forego my other excitable questions by asking for a commitment today that the Minister will open up negotiations with the City of Yellowknife as soon as possible to ensure that we do have life-guarding services in this territorial park. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. The GNWT encourages us to be safe by educating us of the dangers of smoking and not to drink and drive, to wear helmets when riding bicycles. I cannot understand why the GNWT would cancel the service that keeps everyone safe at this beach. I cannot understand that they are not willing to pay their fair share of costs through a partnership for this service. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development about this decision to no longer provide lifeguarding services at the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, referring back to my Member’s statement, the NWT driver's licence, as I see it, is an important piece of identification that in these days of increased security is being more and more criticized for authenticity. Therefore, it demands quality, safety and security around our country with those needs in mind. That is why national standards need to be developed.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation what is his department’s involvement, if any, in a discussion to develop a national standard for driver’s licences? Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, seeing how the Premier, and in conjunction with the Minister of Justice, the honourable Minister Dent, have taken away all my legal aid questions, I had to find a new stump to climb up on and yell about. My question to the Premier, Mr. Speaker, is I have noticed on the status of returns to written questions many of the items, if not all of the items, are overdue for answers, and my question to the Premier is is he in a position to remind all Members of Cabinet that regular Members are waiting for answers on these, and to encourage them to reply? Thank...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Speaker, even as I look down at my own driver’s licence right in front of me, I can see imperfections that need addressing immediately. I see a photo that covers the word “driver” so it reads “river’s licence.” I see shades, contrasts and background symbols that make it very difficult to read my home address. Mr. Speaker, this picture ID doesn’t even have the word Canada on it. So for NWT residents travelling outside of Canada, they may be accused of having a fake ID. So maybe the Department of Transportation should be issuing maps because...