Robert Hawkins

Study after study keeps pointing out its significant risk on youth. We have an obligation. We restrict cigarettes for youth. We restrict access to alcohol to youth. Why aren’t we doing the right thing and restricting access to tanning beds to youth? There’s an immediate opportunity here today. The Minister could issue an order for promotion activities to bring forward this concern, and we could also agree to work on a policy to restrict access for youth. Will he do that?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’m going to start with first and most important visitor to recognize, and I’m going to start with David Hamilton, the first Clerk here. I’ve known David so long. I remember when we were both the same height and we both had lots of hair. It’s been a long time from those days in Fort Simpson. I’ve known him a long time, and I’ve had the pleasure of working with him at the old Ledge many years ago in many capacities. To him, I’m very grateful for always being a mentor to me.

In the gallery we have many people. They’ve already been mentioned, but I think they...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In a couple of weeks we have the operations plan. Obviously, we still have a lot of work to do on the addictions issue. There was no capital investment for detox. Promised, but never delivered.

Will this Minister be working towards the operation plan in a few weeks, which is in about four weeks in early December? Will he be making a commitment in this House that he’ll work to deliver those detox beds in that plan? Otherwise, there should be a clear statement that this government is not interested in this issue.

The Minister’s binder would probably have a nice tab on this particular issue and I would encourage him to turn to that tab and read that page. Yellowknife continues to feel the cold shoulder of results and commitment by this government, especially on the issue of addictions. Northerners want addictions treatment.

Would the Minister read what the breaking binder page says on the tab and go to that tab and tell us what the Department of Health is doing on the detox issue?

This is not a new issue. I hear the Minister say he’s going to work on this. It’s well within his purview. He’s heard this concern many times. I can even hear on the microphone he’s being whispered to by somebody over there. Maybe somebody over there can help guide him with this immediate concern. I’d like immediate action.

Would the Minister be able to, at the very least, start a public campaign stressing the concern noted by the World Health Organization as well as the Skin Cancer Foundation, by stressing the risk that youth can have by doing tanning sessions?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The World Health Organization has classified tanning beds as carcinogenic. The Skin Cancer Foundation qualifies it as ultraviolet tanning sessions increase a user’s chances of developing melanoma by 20 percent. Lastly, those who begin tanning before the age of 35 increase their chances of getting melanoma by almost 75 percent.

I keep raising the issue of tanning beds and the concerns on our youth. My question for the Minister of Health and Social Services is – this is not a new issue – what is he now going to do about this problem.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Movember is an annual month-long event including the growing of mustaches during the month of November to raise awareness about prostate cancer as well as other male cancer. The goal of Movember is to change the face of men’s health by encouraging men to get involved. Movember aims to increase early cancer detection, diagnosis and, certainly, effective treatments, and ultimately reduce the number of preventable deaths.

Besides getting annual checkups, the Movember Foundation encourages men to be aware of any family history of cancer and to adopt a healthier lifestyle...

Mr. Speaker, the Minister knows very well that power rates are based on what it costs to deliver power. In these communities, that’s why some of them unfairly, of course I recognize the problem associated why some of the power rates are outrageously high, but yes, they pegged them to the Yellowknife costs, but yet all they did was keep and maintain the Yellowknife cost as it ever increases but we lowered everyone, so we in de facto subsidize everyone at the Yellowknife rate, but he’s done nothing for 40 percent of the population, so there lies the question.

What is he willing as the Minister of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A few days ago I was questioning Minister Miltenberger regarding the power rates in the Northwest Territories, more specifically the power rates here in Yellowknife. His assessment is we’re doing things, we’re moving forward, there are challenges, et cetera, but he’s always willing to hear a good suggestion.

So the Government of the Northwest Territories engineers or manipulates, or call it as you will, 40 percent of the power rates for residents of the Northwest Territories. Yellowknife is not on that list of 40 percent of the Northwest Territories that they are, again...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the spirit of Halloween, I decided to change things up just a little bit and just for today. As such, in the spirit of working together, I did give the Finance Minister a heads-up and I said I’m going to have a little fun with my statement today. Of course, his response was, “At who’s cost?”, and I assured him no, in all fairness.

There was a television rerun show that I used to watch and I remember it very well from my youth. As such, it has inspired my Member’s statement today. Colleagues, all colleagues, I say I know you know the melody, so don’t be afraid to jump...