Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the Minister overstates how complex the issue is, because it is quite simple. Through the reimbursement process of a meal, a hotel and even taxi services, we process their claims. Again, their claim is drawn down through the normal process of medical travel. I am not referring to government employees; I am referring to the average typical normal citizen that goes on medical travel to the South. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be clear for the record today that she will have her staff certainly by her obviously return a full answer before the end of March on this...

Mr. Speaker, the Minister did commit but it has been four months or more. The fact is I don’t really remember the commitment actually meaning anything. Mr. Speaker, the commitment today could be as such that the policy in the Department of Health and Social Services will make that policy change reflective of modern times. The Minister can send that message quite clearly by saying the department will work this out before summer’s end. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about concerns and possibilities with the ATCO proposal as well as the future of power in the Northwest Territories. I’d like to ask the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, could he give this House an update to the status of the ATCO proposal and what is the mandate of that proposal. Is it to sell it to ATCO or is it to work in partnership?

Mr. Speaker, if I may paint the issue as simply as this: the territorial government does not take liability on for taxi receipts, so why would a car expense receipt being an expense be any different? Hotel costs we don’t assume liability for, following the same principle, as well as meal costs we don’t assume liability when we seek reimbursement. Would the Minister, noting these types of perspectives, ensure that she honours the commitment to follow up on this issue to me before the end of March? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some time ago I talked with the Minister of Health and Social Services about changing the Medical Travel Policy to reflect modern times in such a way that people can seek reimbursement if they need to use a car instead of taking a taxi service. In many cases, we find it is actually cheaper renting a car than it is to use taxi services. No, no, no seems to keep being the response. One of the issues is servicing. Of course, on defence of the Department of Health and Social Services, they say liability. Mr. Speaker, I don’t think liability at all plays a role here because...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In October 2009 the Government of New Brunswick and Hydro Quebec announced their proposed deal that would see Hydro Quebec buy the majority of New Brunswick power assets. Some call the proposal a win-win deal. New Brunswick power rates would freeze, the sale of the corporation would ease the provincial financial burden and Hydro Quebec would gain thousands of new customers. This could be either seen as golden and historic or simply just plain foolish giving up a birthright.

I wonder if a similar situation could happen here in the Northwest Territories. If the government...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday in my oral questions and Member’s statement I was talking about the two schools in Yellowknife Centre, one would be J.H. Sissons and the other would be Mildred Hall. In my questions to the Minister I was trying to raise the fact that with these schools there are several areas of renovations that need to be tackled and certainly addressed. The Minister, in his response, said that there was an educational review currently underway. I spoke to some of the officials over at YK No. 1 and they’re not aware of this educational review that’s going on at...

Mr. Speaker, I believe there is a firm role here for government to backstop the public to make sure that regulations and oversight exist before something goes off the rails. Mr. Speaker, it’s clear that these types of loans are given to people with low income or, certainly, to middle income Canadians and puts them in financial risk. Why is the Minister waiting for complaints in order to act rather than doing something? Mr. Speaker, the opportunity exists here. Would the Minister act and look into regulations and develop them in a fair way as seven other provinces have in this country?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement today I talked about payday loans and the fact that I believe the territorial consumer is being left at risk. I think that’s time for this government to take an active interest in this file and rather than wait for an accident to happen, we should take control of it through sound, reasonable regulations.

Mr. Speaker, seven out of 10 of the provinces in this Dominion of Canada have ensured that low rates exist for people who have to go to Payday Loans, and they’ve ensured that the protection of the citizens is certainly a priority.

Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I just want to echo my comments. I always find the Department of Transportation quite responsive to many of my concerns, so I should put that on record. Although, the Minister always seems to give me a hard time, the staff’s efforts seem to make up for that. Thank you.

---Laughter