Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. One of the particular issues I’d like to continue on the early childhood education matter, and Ms. Bisaro was wading into the particular area of concern that I share as well, which is the stabilized funding. Has the department put a lot of resources in the sense of attention and identification as to why certain early childhood centres or, certainly, programming doesn’t succeed?

One of the constant complaints I hear, of course, is stabilized funding. I often wonder has the department taken an initiative to analyze the actual cost of what some of these centres would cost...

I wasn’t sure if that was a confirmation that the Minister will follow that up or if that was a clarification. Mr. Speaker, I’ll ask again, would the Minister be willing to commit to ensure that the chief medical health officer does provide some type of public information and ensure that it’s publicly available so people understand the pros and cons of fluoridation and they are clear as to where they are by community and what levels they are being managed at? Thank you.

I want to thank the department for that. Just moving lastly to one particular area and hopefully I’ll have time to get into another one. On this particular area of early childhood development programming there’s at least a number of centres. Mainly I’m thinking of one in the downtown of Yellowknife and they work through one of the education boards. One of the things, of course, is the funding seems to be sort of stalled. How does the department meet those initiatives where the increased funding demand is there but it appears that the funding committed to the overall program remains at a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the chief medical health officer provide any type of public education on any of the issues that they oversee? That question would be directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Thank you.

I’m looking for the program funding. So in other words, the dollar amount. If the dollar amount, how is that particularly... How would that line item be broken out? It’s easy to say $5 million, but what does that actually interpret? Does it break off from there into further programming? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m not asking to go back, but I will provide some explanation on page 8-28. It explains what the programs are that enable individuals with special living requirements to stay in their homes, yada yada yada. I’m just curious specifically on page 8-29 how much is attributed to that specific budget line item. How is that further broken out?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to give credit where credit is due regarding BizPaL. That was an initiative put into action by, I believe, Minister Bob McLeod. I would be remiss to mention, though, it was my idea coming from this side of the House to that side, so we should share credit.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister did say the last time I brought a red tape initiative, or I should say to deal with the challenge, that he would bring it to the Refocusing Government committee and nothing happened. There was no reply. I’m just wondering how does the Minister see that we’ll address this particular...

Mr. Speaker, has the government consulted at all with small business in any form on the initiative of red tape and how the government can respond to the needs and requirements that have been created by the administrative burden through the bureaucracy in its requirement and hunger and thirst for more paper? Has the Minister engaged small business? Thank you.

Alright. Same question; let’s just insert the work administration fee. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to return to a topic I have raised in this House before which continues to be of great concern to me. It’s a matter of government red tape and how frustrating and problematic it is for small business. It’s nothing but a roadblock and a burden on our industry.

Red tape restricts small business activities, creates more paperwork and leads to frustration. Of course, we all recognize the need for regulatory regulations and reporting, but there must be clear and reasonable requirements. I also empathize with small business owners and employees who must deal...