Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve been an outspoken supporter of legislation to ban the use of handheld devices while driving and I’ve spoken many times about the dangers of distracted driving in this House. But, Mr. Speaker, it’s taken too long to get to this point, but I am, anyway, extremely pleased that we will soon have legislation which outlaws driving and cell phone use.

I want to congratulate the Department of Transportation for planning ahead. They have developed a communications plan for educating NWT residents about the upcoming changes to the Motor Vehicles Act and the impact it will...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think it’s a good thing that the Minister is not sitting in a car.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to say at the outset that I’m extremely pleased to see that these amendments have finally come to this point. I think it’s a good start. I am one of those people who believe that we ought to be also legislating against the use of hands-free devices in a vehicle. They’ve been proven to be as distracting as many other things. I know the Minister feels that it is covered under the Motor Vehicles Act under penalties for distracted driving. I would hope that in a year...

Thanks to the Minister for that somewhat exhaustive list of things. It’s unfortunate that most of the verbs that he used are future tense. I’m really quite disappointed that between January 2011 and the end of August 2011 it seems as though there’s very little that the department has done to promote this Leave the Phone Alone pledge campaign. I really feel that this is an absolutely wonderful opportunity to force people, to train people not to use their cell phones while driving. If they have a sticker on their vehicle which says they’ve pledged, they’re quite likely to think three or four...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Transportation. I’d like to ask some questions of him with regard to programs that the department runs relative to distracted driving. It’s well known that distracted driving dangers are out there and that they’re really quite valid.

Early in 2011 the Minister made a statement or comment that the Drive Alive program would have different facets to it. In February, I believe, I made a statement about distracted driving and I asked the Minister about the Leave the Phone Alone pledge campaign, which he had indicated was...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister. I’m really glad to hear that the department is actively looking at this report and is actively considering making some changes. I think that there are some necessary. The report presumably was received late last year. It’s dated October 2010. I’d like to ask the Minister, if this is going to the 17th Assembly, when we might expect to see some recommendations for change from this report.

It’s interesting to note that there are two reviews relative to the Protection Against Family Violence Act which were posted recently on the Justice department website. I think it was on Monday. The one the Minister refers to, I think, is called an Analysis of Emergency Protection Order Hearings in the NWT and it’s dated October 2010. In the summary of findings in that report it says: “The EPO legislation is well conceptualized and well written, but may need some modification to deal with special circumstances.” The Minister says he’s considering this report. I’d like to know whether or not...

The election looms large and housing is a particularly important issue for all of our constituents. I urge all NWT residents to take action during the campaign. When a candidate appears at your door, tell them of your housing concerns and ask them how they will deal with them if elected.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The NWT Housing Corporation is currently in the middle of a review of its Shelter Policy. I commend this House for recognizing the importance of this review, and for ensuring that adequate funds for a thorough review were approved in our 2011-2012 budget. This review is important, both to MLAs and to our constituents, and approving those funds has allowed for a comprehensive review, not just a scratch of the surface.

I had an opportunity to provide input to the review earlier this summer and I spent considerable time with the interviewer itemizing my concerns. Mine are...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have similar comments with regard to this supplementary appropriation. I, too, have expressed before and I still feel that we budget for our forest fire suppression completely wrongly. I think our residents and constituents understand sort of a home budget where you estimate what you’re going to spend and then you budget for that amount of money. What we do here for forest fire suppression is we budget for the absolute minimum, knowing full well that by the time we have mobilized our forces, the minimum has been spent and there’s going to be a need to come back for...

I appreciate that all options will be considered. I guess it’s a matter of when we can expect something to come back, when the report will be evaluated. We’re getting on to almost a year since it was received.

Another quote from the summary findings is: “Any difficulties with the EPO hearing appear to be in its application, not its design.” It goes to the heart, I think, of the matter of some of the difficulties that have occurred in the last while. I’d like to know if the department will consider, when it does its review, the application process and the specific finding from this report.