Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I talked in my Member’s statement today about a concern about diesel fuel for transportation and the concern that shortage has caused. My question could apply to multiple Ministers, but I think maybe in this particular case I may ask the Premier for his perspective on the situation.

In this situation here we have a possibility of a shortage.... Well, actually, I shouldn’t say possibility. We know there’s a shortage in Western Canada. The question really is: when is this shortage going to creep up into the Northwest Territories?

I’d like to ask the Premier: from his...

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize Mr. Bromley’s motion as very important, and I appreciate the spirit and intent of it.

Mr. Speaker, as the father of two young children I certainly understand and in no way dispute the nutritional value of milk. I understand that clearly, and it makes perfect sense to me. I also understand the impacts of what happens when you don’t have milk.

It’s difficult to say this, but I cannot support this motion at this time the way it’s designed. This program, in my view, is what the Food Mail Program, in principle, should be doing but isn’t doing. I believe that the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the motion speaks for itself as to the merits of why this should be taken on. I want to thank the seconder, Mr. Jackie Jacobson of Nunakput, for seconding this.

Mr. Speaker, this issue is very important. I’ve been made aware through a number of sources that the Food Mail Program is probably not used regularly in the context of being used properly and as efficiently as possible. When push comes to shove, at times the good, healthy food tends to get pushed aside for the less healthy food. That’s a shame.

Although the federal government at this time is doing a review...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seconded the motion proudly because I believe in this initiative. My wife and I bought a hybrid vehicle two years ago. I can tell you that when we were there, the salesperson said: where do you live? I said: we live in Yellowknife. He felt at that time, due to the analysis, that a hybrid vehicle might not necessarily give us the best payback. But that’s not how we run our family. We said that this is a smart, economical choice, and we’re making choices because we’re thinking of tomorrow as opposed to just today.

I would encourage any incentives that could be brought...

Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to hear that the supply won’t affect the resupply process that happened already this summer. I mean, from a community perspective, knowing that you only get filled up once, maybe even twice a year if you’re lucky, you’re right: it has a significant impact. I’m glad that there’s stability there.

But, Mr. Speaker, there are things like food that have to be delivered to the Northwest Territories through the trucking system. There is home heating fuel that has to be delivered as well — things along those lines. That’s some of the issue that’s being raised here, the concern...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wish to report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a motion to move.

I move that this committee strongly recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment take urgent action to advance the project schedule and proposed cash flow for the J.H. Sissons School renovation project by two fiscal years; and further, that the necessary funding amounts be included in the second estimates document that will be presented to the House in February of 2009 for fiscal year 2009–2010.

Are those standards typically smaller than from the deputy minister’s experience from older schools to modern schools?

I seem to recall that clearly, but okay; I will accept that.

Mr. Chairman, with classroom size has there been a change between the old, typical design of classroom size per square foot to a modern size design? Therefore, if we go to a wholly full-fledged new school, in theory, would the school be smaller because of the new standardization of designs in comparison to renovating the existing school?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just something I was thinking about while I was listening to the debate with great interest, of course: with the Cardinal design of that Hay River school, do we still have to go through some approval process for him to sign off if any changes are made to that school?