Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Minister could elaborate on possibly trying to accommodate, recognizing that there are single parents out there who still have to deliver children to school and pick up groceries. As I pointed out earlier, we still have people out there who do drive for a living. So maybe if the Minister could let me know on how he plans to look into this problem by trying to accommodate as I have mentioned. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to the Minister of Transportation, following up on my earlier Member’s statement with regard to people under hardship and duress due to the lengthy process about getting renewals for drivers’ licences. Would the Minister be willing to reconsider implementing the notices for renewal for peoples’ drivers’ licences? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues, for allowing me to finish my statement. Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, the point that I’m making is that once your driver’s licence expires you have to start the process from start to finish again, which could take up to a month and that’s happened to some constituents of mine.

Mr. Speaker, I presently hold a class 4 driver’s licence which requires an updated medical every five years. Unbeknownst to me, I got a letter from the Department of Transportation as a reminder that I had to submit a current medical in order to keep my class 4 driver’s...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First off, I would like to say welcome back to everyone. Today one of our honourable colleagues had mentioned it’s been 132 days since the House last sat, and it’s been a lonely summer without being able to work closely with everyone, so I’m glad to see all the smiling faces again. Mr. Speaker, my Member’s statement today is with regard to driver’s licence renewal process.

Mr. Speaker, several constituents of mine have brought forward concerns about the dilemma where sometimes, inadvertently, I must stress, they allow their driver’s licence to expire beyond the grace...

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.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier, the Honourable Joseph Handley. My question is with regards to where the implementation strategy is for the vision for the arts. During the business plan, the Department of RWED, as well as the Department of Education, had requested our support for these projects. So without giving us details, I am asking the Premier where the implementation of the vision for the arts strategy is. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me a warm feeling that the Minister wishes to be so accommodating by looking into that, so I would thank him. Mr. Speaker, recognizing the difficult hardship and the fact that some of my constituents, as well as constituents of all of us, have to take sometimes up to a month to get renewal if they happen to forget to renew their licence in the proper time, would the Minister be able to give me his firm assurance today he will direct his department to put people ahead who have to go through the full process again and receive ultimate priority in getting their...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have a couple of people to recognize. First, one of my most feisty seniors in Yellowknife Centre, I could call him the honourable Ed Jeske.

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I also would like to recognize two others: Lydia Bardak and Nancy Galway. Nancy is the coordinator of the programs for the John Howard Society. She is leaving the North to return to Labrador as a social worker. Ms. Bardak is taking over part of the transition of the John Howard Society. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mr. Speaker, the point I’m getting now to is the fact that a person who had their driver’s licence expire beyond the grace period had to wait a month before they could retake their exam. Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to finish my Member’s statement? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Minister could comment specifically what is holding up the telephone being considered an allowable expense? Basic telephone service is no longer a luxury of the modern day. I would quantify it as just as important as rent and food. So can the Minister explain that, please? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.