Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to raise the issue I was discussing in my Member’s statement today and it’s my concern that there is still no legislation, that I’m aware of, on the legislative agenda coming forward in this Legislature’s term.

Mr. Speaker, we have a little more than a year and a half left, and the question keeps getting asked to the Minister of Transportation, where is this legislation, where is the department on this legislation, where is the department on this issue.

So, Mr. Speaker, to the Minister of Transportation: does he expect any legislation coming forward...

Mr. Speaker, I can appreciate the willingness or the lack of willingness that the Minister shows interest on this particular issue beyond the fact he turns around and says I understand the concern, but I am sure $250 makes people worry. Well, Mr. Speaker, it is about upping the ante and sending the correct message that needs to be sent, Mr. Speaker. All we have to do is have the ticket submitted to our process, change a regulation so it reflects that. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister show some national leadership on this particular issue and step forward and say we will see if we could find a...

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the deputy minister reading out the flow chart, but what would be new in the sense of developments and new programming and treatment for diabetes for this year? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about my concern and, may I add, my disgust about people who park in handicapped parking who do not have the appropriate placard to be there. I would like to ask questions to the Minister of Transportation to see if the department would be willing to take a lead on this type of initiative to demonstrate its position as well as lend its voice to the fact that this is a wrong we should help correct by enforcing this not stricter but with a clear message.

Mr. Speaker, to the Minister of Transportation: would he be willing to...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under the primary care division, would this be the area that is under the program delivery that would cite areas for diabetes care and treatment? Thank you.

If I understand the Minister correctly, we’re not actually negotiating anything. We’re just agreeing to what they’re suggesting that they’ll pay us for services. If that’s the case, I’ll just wait until I get the documentation to help clarify this.

The last point on this particular section: is the Minister aware… Although I asked it earlier, it somewhat buckled into the same problem. Is the Minister aware of the actual dollar amount that is believed to be outstanding by the federal government that is owed to the territorial government?

Thank you. I certainly hope that all that information can be shared amongst all Members. Mr. Chairman, just to continue a little further, when the original agreement... Or let me say it this way. The present agreement had been signed, it must have an expiry date when the whole contract, if I may describe it that way, or agreement, was to go forward. When does this particular agreement come up for full renewal or is that what the territorial government is presently working on when you refer to I think you said about a year from now? Is that when it’s intended to expire or are you trying to find...

Thank you for the answer there. What is the actual cost that’s being predicted this year for those types of services and, therefore, what would the territorial government be subsidizing as the actual gap between what’s the estimated cost to do the actual services that we’re providing and, furthermore, trying to get a grip on how much money are we losing on this endeavour? Thank you.

It’s my assumption that hospital care under Indians and Inuit, as well as medical care under Indian and Inuit, maybe the Minister can help me find out where that money is specifically earmarked from and does it cover some of the NIHB money that is owed to this government? If not, perhaps the Minister can point to the relevant page. That’s my specific area of concern. I assumed that’s what that line meant. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Are we operating off the 8-8 or 8-9? Because my question specifically points to 8-9, which I thought we were on. I’m just making sure we didn’t go back.