Robert Hawkins

Mr. Speaker, I spoke yesterday in question period and asked the Minister of Human Resources about what they’re doing for summer students. We talked about summer students that potentially could be hired by the GNWT, and that process. The Minister alluded to a potential answer to my questions about the private sector. In the past there has been an incentive program out there for the private sector. I think the Minister said there was around a $5,000 potential out there. What is the Minister doing to ensure that the private sector knows this is available, and to make sure that they can obtain...

Just one more question in this area. Well, I certainly hope only one more question. Is that because…? We were talking about space and whatnot, when the Premier talked about revision coming in ’09–10, so I won’t press that too far. But I just want to get clarity, and hopefully, it’s the last time: is this manager position a permanent position that is staffed at this office, or are they a contract or some type of special hire — hired in a special way outside of the normal process?

Well, you know, it’s funny. When the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, or government as a whole, says, “We’ll take action,” it could mean years. But when citizens like my constituents Adrian Bell or Paul Falvo, or I should mention Diavik, which will be now known as Rio Tinto…. I mean, when they decided to help clean up the streets, they could make a decision in that day and then run out there and start cleaning up the streets on these types of problems.

Mr. Speaker, what’s taking this problem so long? When can we see some real action on this? Because it’s not a difficult problem...

The Minister wasn’t 100 per cent clear on the transfer assignment positions. Is that one that is affected and will be reduced, and will that mean there will be one person in the office after a certain period of time?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe in practical approaches to everyday problems. I believe we have a solution before us about this plastic bag problem, which is to use cloth bags or recyclable bags. In my household I try to lead by example. I have a six-year-old who often reminds me about stuff like that, because it’s the young kids who know all about this problem. They seem to be teaching us older folks.

We need some leadership from the Department of ENR on this issue. I’d certainly like to know and get some details as to where this government is on working toward eliminating, in a gradual...

Can I get some further details on this as to exactly what this lease commitment is and how it provides value to the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, and of course to the Government of the Northwest Territories?

On that Telehealth position, what analysis was done on that?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act was a groundbreaking initiative brought forward during the 15th Assembly in an attempt to deal with the drug trafficking and crimes devastating our communities. Although the SCAN bill died an unfair death, the problems it was meant to address still continue. Law-abiding citizens continue to be intimidated by crack dealers and bootleggers in their neighbourhoods and are frustrated by the inability of the police to shut down these operations, not to mention the time it takes to do that. With drug houses next to our schools, our...

Then what’s the plan in the department for those people who come to the end of their term and there are no existing nurse practitioner positions? Is it a plan to convert existing RN positions into nurse practitioner positions, as primary care, obviously? And if there is, what’s the cost to do a transition from an RN to an NP position?

Seeing as we’re on the dialysis positions, how many positions are dedicated to that type of treatment in the unit?