Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today there’s still no cell phone ban legislation before this Assembly. There’s not even a legislative proposal coming forward that I’m aware of or anyone’s aware of, that I know. Mr. Speaker, the Minister still refuses to make the call on this issue. I’m not sure why; perhaps maybe just being stubborn. Mr. Speaker, the Minister’s leadership on this issue is so far behind I couldn’t even call him Johnny-come-lately. He just doesn’t care.

Mr. Speaker, I was watching TV the other day and Oprah Winfrey has even weighed in on this issue and she’s set up a blog...

It wasn’t meant as disrespect. Are we talking about running new programs for treatment for specifics of diabetes? At this time, as I understand, we are not sending people out or we are avoiding sending people out for treatment for those types of things who have received treatment. They are being told now that they will offer acute care. When I refer to acute in the sense is specific to their needs here whether it is a system with weight loss, the system with specific treatments, things of those types. It is my understanding there is no rollout right now. I am trying to get a sense exactly what...

Mr. Speaker, understanding the experience and certainly sharing the frustration is much appreciated. Mr. Speaker, I have seen people sort of challenge these on their own. I know a particular father out there who has a child who is handicapped. They are challenging people face to face who park in handicapped parking. I fear for them because one of these days it is not going to be just two people arguing in a parking lot. We need some type of trepidation that sends a message. Mr. Speaker, what can the Department of Transportation do at this stage to help sort of build up this issue to make sure...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My same question stands. Is this the same area under primary care division or public health division where we get into the diabetic treatment? If so, what programs are being presently offered and what new programs are being contemplated in this budget cycle year? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to use my Member’s statement to sort of paint a picture about an experience that was brought to me by a constituent. Could you imagine your life if you were handicapped or a child of yours was handicapped? Moving around in this city is difficult enough with a child who is in a handicapped situation, but could you imagine how difficult it is from time to time finding parking spaces and you pull up to a parking lot to find that the vehicle occupying that space doesn’t have a handicap placard?

They came to me with this concern, and I’ve seen it many times...

Just one last thing -- sorry -- on this particular file. Has our Health Minister ever written the federal Minister of Health in regard to this specific concern? Would the Minister be willing to provide any correspondence if the department did so, and would the Minister be willing to provide any response as to how the federal government has provided her in her action to help address this problem? Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, this may not be the time or place in the context of that level of detail, but I’m just trying to understand if it’s a year-by-year agreement, what are we actually negotiating or renewing if it sounds like it automatically renews at a flat escalator of 2 percent? I mean, I’m just trying to understand what are we renewing. Thank you.

I appreciate that answer but, with all due respect, I think that’s an issue of semantics where we’re saying something similar. Ultimately, I think that it goes back to the question why are they funding us that particular case and on what basis are they funding us that particular case? Thank you.

Thank you for clarifying which page my specific question would be on. Seeing how it is related, I’d like to continue. What is the present formula that causes us to get $21 million for that type of care in this particular budget cycle? What type of inflationary factors are built in? As I understand it, the territorial government services cost more than we’re being paid. In other words, did we put in a particular figure and did the federal government respond with a particular figure and, of course, what would that figure be? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under revenue summary, I’m just curious as to finding out what particular money is built into this bottom line here that emphasizes the money paid to us through our NIHB figures. Thank you.