Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate what the Minister is saying, but, Mr. Speaker, my constituents have bare cupboards. Their cupboards are bare. I will say clearly why: because they can’t reach them, Mr. Speaker. I went into one unit; the dishes were dirty because they can’t wash them. Every time they reach over the counter, their arms are halfway in the buckets of water in the sink. Mr. Speaker, if you were one of these constituents of mine, and you are trying to get food out of the oven, and you are in a wheelchair or on a scooter or stroller because you have MS, you...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise because I have some serious concerns with our social housing policy in my constituency. Mr. Speaker, I have been invited to go downtown to visit some of my constituents who are disabled, and they showed me personally the access they have into their homes, and showed me the difficulties they have with living in these horrific circumstances. I think the policy, as it's designed right now, if there is a policy -- which I will be asking the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation -- is very degrading, because I don't think folks are living in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure if it really matters, because the fact is accessible living should be accessible living, so it should be considered a standard regardless of which envelope they fall under. Mr. Speaker, I will make a true commitment that the landlord did make an effort: they widened doors and they put in bigger showers. But, Mr. Speaker, when I have a person in a wheelchair who can't even reach his towel, he has to throw it on the floor or half in the shower. My question really is what policy do we have under the responsibility of the Housing Corporation...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be brief. I, too, wish to acknowledge the great efforts that the NWT seniors’ team put forward by recognizing them, as well. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services and it is going to be quite a frank question. When will this family receive the services needed for this child? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to take a moment to thank the honourable Member for Nahendeh; apparently there were two reports to read in and he gave me the longer of the two.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I would like to read the review of the Languages Commissioner’s Annual Report 2003-2004.

The Official Languages Act was passed by the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in 1984. The act guarantees equal status for the use of Canada’s two official languages for members of the public using government programs and services. The act also officially recognized the...

No further questions, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this time to recognize two visitors in the gallery: Mr. Mark Wilson and Mr. Brett Scarf. I believe they are both here to support their children who are acting as Pages today. They were able to find time today to come by and watch their children. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to use this opportunity, through my Member’s statement, to bring forward a concern that has been bothering some constituents of mine. Mr. Speaker, I can’t name the person because this person happens to be a youth, but a family has called me on numerous occasions over the past year. It concerns their dealings with the Department of Health and Social Services about getting their child into treatment.

Mr. Speaker, we have a young northerner here who has FAE. This person is seriously at risk. It is time that something gets done. This family has been trying...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today with a question for the Premier, the Honourable Joseph Handley.

Mr. Speaker, what is the total cost to date that the GNWT has invested: in studying environmental impacts, feasibility, or costs; analysis development of any business plans; contributions to other parties involved; or, finally, by any other means that are directly related to the construction of both the Taltson and Bear River dam projects? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.