Mr. Speaker, I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement where I spoke about ignition interlock devices. A constituent from Fort Simpson recently advised me that Alberta is instituting theirs beginning July 1. In the 15th Assembly I did raise it in this House with the Minister of Transportation then. I’d just like to know how much work is being done with the ignition interlock device issue within our government and within the Ministry of Transportation.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommend that the Government of the Northwest Territories table a comprehensive response to the report within 120 days.

On Friday, May 23, 2008, the Standing Committee on Government Operations presented its Report on the Review of the 2006–2007 Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner. The report, which includes four recommendations, was read into the record by members of the standing committee on that day. Mr. Chair, I would suggest dealing with any general comments members of this committee might have before dealing with any recommendation.

I move that this committee recommend that the Minister table a detailed action plan no later than October 2008 outlining how the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation will address the recommendations of the audit report.

Furthermore, this committee recommends that this plan outline the following details:

specific measures for actions addressing each recommendation;

an explanation of what each of the specific actions addresses;

progress measures for each action;

timelines for each action or measure; and

organizational responsibility and accountability assigned to each specific action.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On Friday, May 23, 2008, the Standing Committee on Government Operations presented its Report on the Review of the Report of the Auditor General on the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Public Housing and Homeownership programs.

Mr. Chair, I would suggest we deal with any general comments members of this committee might have on the report before dealing with the seven recommendations it includes.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you very much, colleagues. I just wanted to say a special thanks to the pages who come from Fort Liard, Ms. Blair Kotchea and Ms. Tina Klondike. They had a nice long travel over here, and I hope they have good, safe travel home.

If the Minister can provide any of the details he’s talking about, or any documentation, that would be helpful to me and my constituents. Certainly, he’ll have my support in moving this forward too.

Thank you very much. I’m very glad to hear they’re seeking not only that but other alternatives. I’d just like to know once again: how soon are they looking at implementing such a program? And do interlock devices require separate legislation, or will they be including that in any amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Drinking and driving remains a serious problem in the NWT. Despite the introduction of new rules and harsher penalties in 2004, impaired driving is still the number one cause of death or injury on our roads.

We do have a useful tool to deal with the NWT’s worst drunk drivers. It is called the ignition interlock device and prevents drivers from using their vehicles if they are not sober. This device requires the driver to provide a breath sample before the engine can be started. It also demands random breath samples while the vehicle is being driven. If the driver does...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I was very happy to hear that our government took the initiative to comment on the events that occurred last week with the apology to residential school victims and survivors that was given by the Prime Minister of Canada. It was very timely, and the feedback over the last ten days of so has led me to believe that…. It was something that was long overdue. It was something that was needed to be heard by all the people who went to residential schools.

I, too, spent many, many years in the residential school system. When I gave my Member’s statement last week, I...