David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Actually, it's okay. I've found it. I'm fine. Thanks.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I wanted to follow up on that. All those programs that the Minister talks about are good. We’ve also had a discussion in this House about a biomass strategy. If you get up to a level of $30,000, that’s a substantive amount of money that would allow homeowners to look at wood pellet technology and at switching over.

All I’m looking for is a commitment from the Minister — and it sounds like he has given that — to take a look at the programs offered in the Yukon and maybe relate those to our situation here, and to include those in a discussion when we’re developing a biomass...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I want to use my Member's statement today to speak about yesterday's proceedings in regard to third reading of Bill 8 for the 2008–2009 budget.

As Members are well aware, the last four weeks have been a real battle between the Regular Members and Cabinet. We have moved an historic number of motions during our budget deliberations, and yesterday was the culmination of all of our efforts.

The budget is not perfect, but we were able to minimize job loss and get the message out to our constituents that consensus government can and does still work. Our Premier...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move to report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to comment, if I could, on the suspending of driver’s licences for individuals who are in default of maintenance payments. The bill will pass, and it’ll go ahead, but I wanted to get my comments on record anyway. I do believe that even though individuals owe maintenance payments we shouldn’t be so heavy-handed as to suspend a driver’s licence, especially when in some cases that parent has access to their children and needs to pick them up, drive them to soccer, drive them to hockey, and it’s 40 below zero outside.

If somebody’s fallen on hard times, I think...

I think that, for individuals who find themselves in a position where they can’t pay maintenance and they’re receiving EI payments, there should be something in this legislation here in the Northwest Territories that protects those individuals. They’re on unemployment insurance; they’re not working. I’m not sure how they could sustain their household or what they have. What we’re going to do by garnisheeing unemployment insurance is drive people into the homeless shelter. I think what we need to do is come up with a clause in here that suggests that we’re not going to do that to people. I do...

Mr. Chairman. I have with me Mr. Ian Rennie from the Department of Justice and the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr. Tim Mercer, to my left.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m pleased to provide opening comments on Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act.

Mr. Chairman, Bill 12 empowers the Human Rights Commission to establish its own rules of procedure and simplifies its annual reporting requirements. The bill transfers the responsibility for hiring and supervising staff from the commission and vests it with the director of Human Rights. The staff become employees in the public service. The amendments empower both the director and the commission to appoint assistants and engage advisors. Finally, the Board of Management of the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Sorry to go back to page 16, but I request unanimous consent to go back to page 16. I just had a question for clarification on that page.

Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. In doing some research on another topic, I came across a couple of programs that they have in the Yukon. One is the Home Repair Program, which provides $35,000 in financing to homeowners at a zero per cent interest rate amortized over 12 years. Another interesting program they have there is an Alternate Energy System Program, which provides up to $30,000 to residents in the Yukon to install alternate energy systems in their homes.

I’m wondering if the Minister can just comment on what comparable...