Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m concerned about the increasing number of evictions from public housing and I’m equally concerned about the fact that the Ministers who are responsible for Housing, Education and Health and Social Services do not appear to be working together to reduce the number of evictions.

Last year, a report on homeless women and families in the NWT said that the number of homeless women is in the hundreds. Where do these Ministers think that these evicted families are to go? Who is to support them? What are their options in finding housing in their community or...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just further to Committee Report 8-16(3), I just have one motion and I will now read that into the record.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures is pleased to provide its Report on the Evaluation of the Use of Laptop Computers in the Legislative Assembly and commends it to the House.

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures tabled Committee Report 3-16(3), Report on the Use of Laptop Computers and Blackberry Devices in the Legislative Assembly, on February 11, 2009.

The report examined a number of issues pertaining to the use of portable electronic devices by both Members of the Assembly and our staff in the performance of our duties.

As a result of the review...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and have Committee Report 5-16(3) moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Mr. Speaker, my constituent is a loyal listener of the Legislative Assembly proceeding and I can tell you they’re probably watching right now. Mr. Speaker, so he’ll be very pleased with that brief an answer.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, you know, I’m glad to hear it’s going to work out, from the sounds of what the Minister had to say, but sometimes it has to be approved up front and I am suggesting we create a process where we inform people up front that if they want the choice of independence, they can have that and make it on their own or if they want the choice to submit receipts, they have...

The Minister said this issue is raised every time he meets with the board of governors and he’s certainly said that this is a long-term plan of, I assume, his department or the focus of this government. What exactly is the long-term plan and what is his response to the board of governors in reflection of that long-term plan about establishing an independent campus here in Yellowknife on its own property and its own facility to help our students?

I appreciate the Minister for answering every question, but the one I asked is: Where is the cost-benefit analysis on the process of looking at putting the Aurora College that’s downtown on its own independent campus to establish itself in its own right?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take the time to recognize one of our Pages, Ms. Paige Elkin. She’s a constituent in Yellowknife Centre as well as my kids’ favourite babysitter. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures is pleased to provide its Auxiliary Report on the Review of the Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the Administration of the 2007 Election and present it to the House.

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures tabled its first report, Committee Report 4-16, on the Review of the Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the Administration of the 2007 Election on March 11, 2009. That report stated that additional research would be undertaken on three topics:

criminal records checks for candidates;

special ballots...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a constituent of mine for some time has been travelling to Edmonton on medical travel and their travel expense claims continues to be somewhat similar each time. Out of this process some difficulty has arisen but also a possible solution. What they did was they chose the lower cost option by renting a car from the airport to drive into the city for their appointments and whatnot and, of course, they came back to file their medical travel claim. To rent the car was actually cheaper than it was to do the normal $60 cab ride, $60 back and as well as all those...