Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that this committee recommends that Members be permitted to use laptops during Committee of the Whole proceedings during the winter 2009 session only, after which their use will be evaluated;

And further, that communication devices cannot be used by a Member who has the floor; and that a Member who has the floor must have his or her laptop closed.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Is that based on some type of policy and, if it is, when did that get instituted? Thank you.

The Minister is right; there are things the tenant can take to the rental officer, such as the heat wasn’t there, the power wasn’t turned on, maybe my lock was changed. But there’s nothing there about fair rent; fair and reasonable. Yes, I believe a landlord should be able to make a profit. Yes, recognizing that oil and power are going up, those things need to be protected, absolutely. But by raising rent at 33 percent, can the Minister explain to me how that would be considered fair and reasonable and what grounds would a tenant be able to challenge this under the existing rental act? Because...

Mr. Chairman, I’m just following the power numbers as well as the heating numbers and the water and sanitation numbers, and what I’m noticing is that water and sanitation seems to be higher than power. I mean, in the bigger picture it looks like the fuel cost is almost identical to water costs. I know it’s less than a million, but when you try to compare apples to apples here in this scenario -- no bananas or oranges this time around -- the costs seem quite significant. Do you do any auditing to find out why water costs and why power costs are so high, and certainly fuel? Thank you.

That certainly puts the average person, whether they’re single income, double income, whatever the case may be, at a significant disadvantage because, as I cited today, they’ve had increases of 16 percent in Yellowknife that have been quite regular over the last few years and certainly have a single example of 33 percent rental increase at an apartment unit. That’s barely affordable if it’s affordable at all. What is the Minister willing to do to put support behind the average family that’s out there trying to rent and get by at the same time?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I talked about this being the wrong approach. I’m reminded by Steven Cubby when he talks about begin with the end in mind. I questioned myself as to what the Minister decided at the very start as to where we’re going on this initiative. Did he decide that he’s going to eliminate all these boards? Or did he decide that he was going to strive for efficiencies? I would say he certainly didn’t get the second one right. I think he strived to eliminate boards and I think that is the wrong process.

He has said on record that there will be no...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a question for Minister Miltenberger, Minister for refocusing government. I’d like to ask the Minister what meaningful work and consultation has been done with the boards to find efficiencies prior to taking the singular approach of a board roll-up. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I have questions for Minister Miltenberger as well. I was listening closely to Mr. Yakeleya’s question and the response from Minister Miltenberger. Mr. Yakeleya’s question was basically what is stopping you from stopping this. Minister Miltenberger’s somewhat response is, if the Legislature decides. So, Mr. Speaker, I think this question could be put to rest today clearly and simply. Mr. Speaker, my question to Minister Miltenberger is, if this Legislature passed the motion today to stop board reform, would the Minister heed that recommendation and take it back to Cabinet to stop...

Mr. Speaker, today I publicly demand Minister Miltenberger please put down your board reform pen and join the side of the people. If there is a time for unity, a vision where Northerners need to work together during these fiscally tight and uncertain times, the time is certainly now. The thinking of “government knows best” has been heard and is certainly now refuted by the people who are demanding better from their elected officials. From the turnout today, it is proof enough that the people want their government Ministers to now listen.

Mr. Speaker, if I may, the dream of a democratic approach...

Mr. Speaker, is the Minister saying that no consultation about this approach was taken in advance to discuss, design, find efficiencies prior to the roll-up decision? Thank you.