Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am only concerned about the obligation of safety, whereas the territorial government may see no smoking as a personal obligation, yet the territorial government engages in non-smoking policies and safety policies. Last year was an anomaly and we pointed out the uniqueness of it, whereas qualified lifeguards were not available. This year they are available, so I would like to think that the territorial government is trying to ensure the lifeguards are there. I am asking for the Minister to ensure that he will be there contractually to help support through financial...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will first say I noted the willingness to talk to the City of Yellowknife in the Minister’s voice there, so I may forego my other excitable questions by asking for a commitment today that the Minister will open up negotiations with the City of Yellowknife as soon as possible to ensure that we do have life-guarding services in this territorial park. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. The GNWT encourages us to be safe by educating us of the dangers of smoking and not to drink and drive, to wear helmets when riding bicycles. I cannot understand why the GNWT would cancel the service that keeps everyone safe at this beach. I cannot understand that they are not willing to pay their fair share of costs through a partnership for this service. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development about this decision to no longer provide lifeguarding services at the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, seeing how the Premier, and in conjunction with the Minister of Justice, the honourable Minister Dent, have taken away all my legal aid questions, I had to find a new stump to climb up on and yell about. My question to the Premier, Mr. Speaker, is I have noticed on the status of returns to written questions many of the items, if not all of the items, are overdue for answers, and my question to the Premier is is he in a position to remind all Members of Cabinet that regular Members are waiting for answers on these, and to encourage them to reply? Thank...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Speaker, even as I look down at my own driver’s licence right in front of me, I can see imperfections that need addressing immediately. I see a photo that covers the word “driver” so it reads “river’s licence.” I see shades, contrasts and background symbols that make it very difficult to read my home address. Mr. Speaker, this picture ID doesn’t even have the word Canada on it. So for NWT residents travelling outside of Canada, they may be accused of having a fake ID. So maybe the Department of Transportation should be issuing maps because...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Minister, for your answer. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us what the process and timelines will be for the approval and implementation of a new national standard for drivers’ licences? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the heightened security environment that we all live in today, more and more people are being asked to produce photo identification in the course of their day-to-day routines. Although drivers’ licences are primarily intended to show that a person is qualified to operate a motor vehicle, in reality people do rely on them for proof of their identity in a number of situations. Many organizations, including banks and airlines, consider them a standard piece of identification. For many people, their driver's licence is the only kind of standard ID that they...

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be willing to consider making these adjustments I have noted to our territorial driver’s licence? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. Can the Minister give us some examples of what kinds of new standards and requirements are likely to come forward as recommendations to be adopted for a new standard of driver’s licence? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, referring back to my Member’s statement, the NWT driver's licence, as I see it, is an important piece of identification that in these days of increased security is being more and more criticized for authenticity. Therefore, it demands quality, safety and security around our country with those needs in mind. That is why national standards need to be developed.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation what is his department’s involvement, if any, in a discussion to develop a national standard for driver’s licences? Thank you, Mr...