Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to speak to the matter of a hotel tax again, as I did a few days ago in my Member’s statement.

The concept of implementing a territorial hotel tax was first proposed back in 2000 and has been raised in many forms ever since. Mr. Speaker, even in October of last year it was once again raised and supported in the discussions hosted by the Finance Minister‘s revenue consultation. In early 2010 even the NWT Association of Communities passed a resolution asking the GNWT to grant municipal authority over the hotel tax issue. As many will recall, even a motion...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve known most of the Leishman family most of my life; actually and I grew up with many of them, including Allisdair.

I could not put into words in any way the feelings and emotions that the Leishman family are going through in this particular case, nor will I try. This is quite a powerful experience that they’re going through and let us try to imagine in a way how horribly this has changed their whole life forever.

Allisdair, I remember him well playing hockey and I still envision him with the smile and excitement and jest he’s had. He’s was a great guy. I knew his...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Executive.

1.

Please provide details of the content of the department’s gender-based training program, a copy of materials provided to participants, and a copy of the instructor’s training module.

2.

Please provide a summary of the results of any evaluations completed by participants in the department’s gender-based training program.

3.

Please provide some examples of policies that have been modified or updated as a result of the gender-based analysis lens, noting specific changes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, with the research that I’ve done on this particular issue I’ve seen that the Manitoba government has empowered their municipalities to make these types of amendments. What I’m wondering is, first, I appreciate the commitment provided by the Minister thus far, but I’m wondering if he can take it a little further. If I’d provide that example and perhaps maybe if other people from industry support by providing other examples, would the Minister empower his own officials to see if they could do some work on this in advance of the upcoming NWT Association of Communities meeting, which...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I raised again the issue of a hotel tax. I feel very strongly that that could be one method our government could do to empower municipalities and give them a chance to raise new revenues to help encourage the tourism industry in good partnership with NWT Tourism. My question would be directly to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, because any modification for the municipal statutes, obviously, would be directed at him. Does the Department of MACA have a position on the possible amendments to the municipal statutes that could...

Mr. Speaker, I couldn’t argue with the Minister. I think she’s quite right. We have a lot of fantastic programs for our seniors. I believe strongly, as do many, that an NWT charter for seniors would certainly be, as the old saying goes, it’s finally when the rubber hits the road it sort of locks into our position on how we feel.

Mr. Speaker, in 2006, a copy of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was delivered to the then Minister responsible for Seniors. Mr. Speaker, this is not a new issue for this department. When will the Minister be able to commit one way or the other if the department and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I raised the issue, once again, regarding a seniors charter. Since three weeks ago I made sure that the Minister of Health and Social Services, who is also the Minister responsible for Seniors, received a copy of the matters I was raising as well as the corresponding research on the particular issue, Mr. Speaker, I’d like an update from the Minister responsible for Seniors. Has she had a chance to evaluate the merits of a potential seniors charter for the Northwest Territories and what are her plans with that matter? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A number of weeks ago I raised in this House the need for our government to develop a seniors charter that speaks to the dignity and care that our seniors rightly deserve. A seniors charter could be called by many names; perhaps a blueprint of our care, a manifesto of our stewardship, or even a statement of values and commitment by our politicians and government as to what we truly believe.

As the present, leaders of this Assembly, let us not forget we are the shepherds of our present and future generations, both young at heart and certainly young of age. As I stated a...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that we report progress. Thank you.

---Carried

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As promised in my Member’s statement today, I said I would table the NWT Seniors’ Society’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms for Older Adults.