Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to table the Arts Professions Act by the Saskatchewan government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to provide its Report on the Review the 2008-2009 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories and commends it to the House.

The Standing Committee on Government Operations reviewed the 2008-2009 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner at its meeting on May 19, 2010. The committee would like to thank Ms. Elaine Keenan Bengts for her report and for her appearance before the committee.

The Information and Privacy Commissioner is an independent officer of...

Mr. Speaker, I never get tired of saying, although I don’t have to say it very often. Would the Minister commit to meeting with this constituent organization in my riding, because YACL is a downtown organization? Would she commit to opening up a meeting so we can have this type of bridging conversation with any member who is interested in being involved and finding a solution together? We don’t want to miss a real opportunity here to make sure that these families are supported, and I can guarantee, undoubtedly, that there are many Members in this Assembly who would like to be involved in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My colleague Mr. Ramsay raised the issue today regarding the potential loss of respite care through the Yellowknife Association for Community Living. Of course, like many Members in Yellowknife, I too have constituents who do receive this care. It is a significant priority to them. I have received their e-mails of concern. No less passionate is my concern about the funding, as highlighted by Mr. Ramsay. I would like to maybe see if the Minister can explain what is happening with their funding agreement, to ensure that there is some stability through this fiscal year...

I thank the Minister for that clarification of who they actually report to, but, Mr. Speaker, part of my question was overlooked, which is who gave them the mandate to go review the almost 400 pages of regulations under the occupational health and safety regs? Who gave them the marching orders? Was it the Governance Council or was it the Minister’s office? Thank you.

I want to recognize the fact that the Minister has worked hard to make sure that artists do receive both their due and financial support from this government and certainly by his department. This Arts Professions Act, which I’ll table later today, is a very small act. It basically defines what artists are, and how they’re recognized and certainly how they can be supported by the government. Again, it’s by the Government of Saskatchewan protecting Saskatchewan artists.

Does the Minister see any chance that once he has a copy of this, does he foresee any chance that perhaps he can task his...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to talk about the government and how they can support a very important part of our northern business economy, that being our NWT artists. By way of fact, approximately 18 percent of the NWT population considers themselves an artist in one form or another. That’s almost one in five, which is an amazing population in our Territory. That could be your friends, your neighbours or whoever, but when you look around, one in five is a lot of people who consider themselves in a special area.

These artists are involved in carving, sewing, needlecraft, drawing...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. This is a very important issue for many people who have hearing loss. It’s difficult for some people who have hearing loss to finally admit it, let alone deal with it. It is a significant challenge in families and I’m well aware of some families out there that struggle trying to communicate with each other in the way of dealing with this particular issue. The important thing is, will the Minister respond to this issue with a plan of action to show how the department is going to deal with this particular issue and showing the resources that can be committed to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have another question for the Minister of Health and Social Services, but probably to her great happiness, it’s not regarding supplementary health benefits. It’s regarding hearing tests.

I’ve had some complaints from constituents that it’s taking 18 months or more to get hearing tests here in the Northwest Territories. They’re gravely concerned. I’ve brought this to the attention of the Minister’s office and at the time the response was yes, that’s the reality. In short, what is being done on this problem and has the Department of Health and Social Services solved this...

Mr. Speaker, I can certainly tell the Minister right now, loud and clear, and I have no doubt I have a number of colleagues who would support this statement, which would be I would certainly believe that we could move on a policy to make an amendment immediately to include the working poor, as well as wait for the highlights and guidelines and certainly direction coming forward next week by the Minister of Health.

In short, Mr. Speaker, what’s stopping the Minister or, of course, the Premier, from answering the question, or perhaps the Deputy Premier from answering the question? Anyone else...