Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Madam Chair. It comes as no surprise, I’m sure, to the Minister that I’d like to raise the consumer affairs issue. I think this is an area that seems to be underexplored by this government and whether it’s the lending agencies of the small little loan companies out there, payday loans as they’re often referred to, which I’ve had concern with in the…or even to the gas prices or the cell phone issue that I raised the week before. I’d like to hear from the Minister on how they plan to work with this area, perhaps maybe even bolster it and support it in a manner that it gets out into...

Mr. Chair, I appreciate that answer, but one of the problems with that is we don’t have a direct policy for a mandate under a department. How do we get a policy statement by a department where it falls under an activity description that supports seniors and active living? We have one under MACA that truly represents and bolsters the needs that fall under youth and certainly what support the youth need. How do we get one in the Municipal and Community Affairs that supports seniors with dollars? Thank you.

Under emergency management, I’m curious as to how many communities in the Northwest Territories have emergency response plans and does the territorial government fund them at the community level and support the development of them.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, now that we’ve narrowed down that the Department of Transportation is Bob the Builder on this particular reference, what innovative construction techniques have been found by the Department of Transportation to ensure that this highway will be built and maintain a decent standard? I liken it to Highway No. 3 as we’ve all seen fall apart over the years after and even during its building.

Land lease. Would the Minister provide me the last time land leases were looked at? I’m looking for the information as to when the last time land fees or leasing fees were adjusted. How do we come about with a particular rate on charging those things?

Although we’re still under the directorate, and I harken back without going to the page that is under the direct to be description, we have strategic planning and policy support. When I draw that to our attention here, do we use our support mechanisms to develop policy or policy initiatives, in relation to direction given to Arctic Energy Alliance?

Thank you, Madam Chair. It’s my further pleasure to offer more insightful comments and questions to this particular page. I was reading some information here under responsibilities, and that’s referring to one of the particular transfer agreements from the Government of Canada to the Department of Transportation. For the official record, we should say that’s the transfer date of May 1990.

Under the responsibility section, plus sections, sections, sections, under there it further goes on that, “The GNWT will assume the following responsibilities…” and if we further follow the chain down, “...

Why?

The problem with page 6-19 is it doesn’t break it out in detail so you just see it as headquarter positions without that…(inaudible). What community or public activities do the emergency management folks take on about public engagement and planning, so that the public know and understand what they do, as well as public relationship of the preparation and planning for emergency measures? I suspect that this is a high intensity area where you spend a lot of time developing policy and relationships with community, community organizations, peoples, partners, et cetera.

Thank you. The Minister keeps speaking to this as if a deal has already been formalized and it’s just a matter of it being signed off to the feds.

What new construction technology has been advanced that we will guarantee a solid construction of the Inuvik-Tuk Highway Project? I liken it to the Highway No. 3 that has been invested in for many, many years and millions of dollars and we continue to always be in bad shape. So what new construction techniques has the Department of Transportation innovated to guarantee it as a real, good, solid, quality piece of work? Thank you.