Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories is only partway through a process on a devolution agreement-in-principal that has not yet concluded. Cabinet has not yet formally considered the proposed agreement-in-principle and we are still waiting to hear from aboriginal governments. While we have not made a final decision about next steps, I believe that it is important to take some time now to speak to some of the misconceptions and misinformation that have arisen since the leak of the proposed AIP a little more than a week ago.
Much has been said and reported in the media over the last week about the supposed impact of devolution on existing land claims and current land resources and self-government negotiations. There’s been speculation that the draft devolution agreement-in-principle somehow prejudices current aboriginal rights negotiations and that governments would be violating existing land claims agreements if the draft devolution agreement-in-principle were to be approved. Nothing is further from the truth. Mr. Speaker, I would like to use my statement today to provide information on this subject in an effort to support the discussion that is grounded in fact.
First of all, the land claim agreements are modern treaties and, therefore, constitutionally protected. In concrete terms, that means if there were a conflict between a devolution agreement and a land claim, the land claim prevails.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to point out that existing land claim agreements anticipated
devolution. The Gwich’in, Sahtu and Tlicho agreements include statements that nothing in the land claim will prejudice the devolution of jurisdictions from Canada to the GNWT. It is important to understand this demonstrates that land claim agreements were never intended to prevent the devolution of authorities from Canada to the GNWT.
The GNWT has made commitments to the aboriginal parties to involve them in devolution negotiations. The GNWT has fully honoured these commitments and will continue to do so.
And, Mr. Speaker, the draft devolution agreement-in-principle includes specific protections for existing aboriginal treaty rights and settlements as well as future settlements.
It is important to understand that current regional land resources and self-government negotiations are based on, or a regionalization of, the 1990 unratified draft Final Dene-Metis Agreement. What that means in concrete terms is that land and cash offers are based on the unratified Dene-Metis Agreement. Devolution has no influence or effect on Canada’s offer at negotiations regarding land and cash.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to clarify statements that the subject matters for negotiation in devolution talks are the same as those in self-government negotiations. Simply put, that is not true. First of all, devolution deals with administration and control over Crown lands. Land claim agreements and self-government agreements address the aboriginal party’s authority to administer and control settlement land. Land claim agreements also address the land, water and environmental regulation throughout the settlement area.
This regulatory regime applies to all parties who own land, be it settlement corporations, aboriginal governments, other third parties, or the federal government or the GNWT as it administers Crown land. The single integrated system of resource management throughout the Mackenzie Valley was a central feature of the draft Dene-Metis Final Agreement and nothing in a devolution agreement can affect that.
Furthermore, the focus of self-government negotiation is in areas such as education, social assistance, child protection, adoption and social housing. Devolution negotiations, on the other hand, only address the powers and authorities of a public government to administer and control public land.
I would like to assure Members of this House, the public, and our aboriginal partners that the ownership of land and resources, both surface and subsurface, recognized under existing or future land claims will not be jeopardized by a devolution agreement. Aboriginal people, through their claimant organizations, will continue to be significant landowners in this Territory. With or without devolution, the Inuvialuit, Gwich’in, Sahtu, and Tlicho will all continue to own the surface and subsurface lands identified in their respective agreements.
In addition, the Gwich’in, Sahtu, and Tlicho agreements have specific chapters dealing with resource royalties that already provide them a share of all resource royalties collected throughout the Mackenzie Valley. Additional resource revenues will be offered to aboriginal governments as part of our final agreement on devolution.
I believe we may have the basis for a deal on devolution that will create real benefits and opportunities, that will bring decision-making about the North to the North for all residents of the Northwest Territories. In the next few days you will hear more from me and other Ministers on the subject of net fiscal benefit, environmental protection, aboriginal participation in negotiations and A-base funding. I trust that the information we provide will contribute to an informed discussion as we consider the merits of the proposed AIP and our next steps over the coming days and weeks.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Minister’s Statement 65-16(5) be moved into Committee of the Whole.
---Carried
The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Northwest Territories has a rich cultural history we need to continue to explore and celebrate. I’m pleased to share successful projects supported by the culture and heritage division at the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.
These projects demonstrate our commitment to research, preserve and share information while highlighting our commitment to showcasing and promoting vibrant cultures of today.
This past summer the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre was a tourist destination for visitors and Northerners alike; over 12,000 visitors enjoyed the new exhibits.
This fall and winter the heritage centre is hosting three new displays of northern heritage, art and culture:
Frozen Eyes - Open Minds is a colourful display of over 80 photographs of youth and photographer mentors, showing modern life in Deline, Fort Simpson, Fort Liard, Fort Smith, N’dilo and Yellowknife.
The Sissons and Morrow Collection is a historic collection of carvings and objects on loan from GNWT Department of Justice.
Seasons of Beauty is a series of photographs by the well-known priest and photographer Father Rene Fumoleau.
The Northwest Territories Ice Patch Study continues for a fifth year on the ancient glaciers of the Mackenzie Mountains. This is a partnership program with the Tulita Dene Band and archaeologists from the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.
Mr. Speaker, the Ice Patch Study revealed ancient Dene artefacts, well-preserved in ice for thousands of years. The artefacts tell the story of when and where the Dene hunted for caribou and other animals.
In Canada, geographical features are named in honour of men and women in the Canadian Armed Forces who died in service of their country. In the Northwest Territories, official commemorations were made during, or shortly following, the Second World War to honour Canadian war casualties, Victoria Cross winners, military leaders, military actions and naval actions.
Three hundred sixteen official geographical names in the Northwest Territories commemorate war casualties. Lists are posted on the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre website in time for Remembrance Day.
Making creative art contributes to the quality of life for artists and for residents who enjoy art. Throughout the 25th anniversary of the NWT Arts Council, 70 creative projects were approved for funding. This is a testament to the continued vitality and talents of our artists.
I want to encourage all Members of the Legislative Assembly to visit the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre website to learn more about the upcoming cultural and heritage activities and exhibits. It will also give you a chance to become a fan of our new Facebook page. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker,
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I am pleased to provide Members with an update on several initiatives that support the 16th Legislative Assembly vision and goals by promoting healthy choices and lifestyles and contributing to the physical and mental well-being of our youth.
The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and its Healthy Choices partners -- Health and Social Services, ECE, Justice, Transportation, the aboriginal governments and the Aboriginal Sport Circle -- work with families, community governments and schools to encourage individuals and families to take responsibility for their well-being and to become physically active. Our common goal is to motivate all residents to lead healthier lifestyles. We consider physical activity an important pillar of the Healthy Choices Framework.
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to report on a number of initiatives the department announced earlier this year.
First, the new Regional Youth Sport Events Program is designed to strengthen local programming in smaller and remote communities, to support athletes and coaches and to improve youth participation in physical activity. I am happy to announce that the department supported 24 sports events in 19 communities in the first year of the program.
Second, the Active After School Funding Program provides financial support to schools and community groups to offer programming that gets kids moving after school. In partnership with the NWT Sport and Recreation Council, the department is providing funding to the Active After School Program for the second time this winter. The program supported 17 projects in 13 communities in 2009-2010. Later this fall the 2010-2011 funding recipients will be announced and we anticipate that the 2009-2010 participation rates will increase significantly, with each community in the Northwest Territories hosting at least one Active After School Program this year.
Third, the department has also been busy expanding programming for youth. During the summer the department, assisted by some very energetic students and interns, supported the wide range of single and multi-sport camps in 14 communities. During the upcoming winter the department will deliver 10 traditional northern and Dene game camps in five regions.
Finally, I would like to draw your attention to our seasonal Get Active NWT campaign, created in 2006. Get Active NWT encourages community groups to organize local events that motivate residents to be physically active. The department, the NWT Recreation and Parks Association and First Air have teamed up to provide local program grants and other incentives. The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs anticipates that nearly 100 community events for all ages will receive funding this year.
Mr. Speaker, the numbers speak for themselves. In 2009, Active Healthy Kids Canada reported that up to 85 percent of youth in the Northwest Territories lack physical activity. That is why our government must continue to encourage healthy lifestyle choices and promote physical activity so that we can demonstrate and document improvements in the health and well-being of our residents in the future.
In conclusion, I would like to celebrate our successes and thank all the Members for their support in these program initiatives. I would like to encourage Members to continue promoting a healthy and active lifestyles in communities and challenge you to lead by example. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the last couple of weeks there has been a lot of talk about this draft agreement-in-principle which the government is currently considering.
Devolution and resource revenue sharing were important topics during the 2007 campaign. I heard many people from across the NWT. They were saying that it needs to be done and that it needs to be done now, that a deal must be struck.
So here we are; a potential deal is at hand. If this AIP is signed, we as a government and as a people will be able to take an important next step and begin the process of negotiating a final deal, a deal which would give residents of the NWT an ability to make decisions on managing public lands, water and resources, protecting the environment and managing the location and pace of development, establish our own NWT vision for land and resource management, socio-economic planning and environmental stewardship, putting into place new approaches to meet NWT’s resource development, infrastructure and investment requirements, and, Mr. Speaker, importantly, stopping the flow of hundreds of millions of dollars to Ottawa and providing the people of the Northwest Territories with net fiscal benefits from resource development.
Mr. Speaker, I respect the go-forward process that the Premier has referenced when asked questions on the AIP last week. Unfortunately, I believe that this is now impossible or at least seriously compromised. The details of the AIP have been released and are now public. They are on the CBC website. My concern is not that they be made public. Rather, my concern is that people don’t understand what this AIP means. This is clear if you actually take a look at the CBC blog which suggests that, although it is available for people to read, they either haven’t read it or, if they did, they don’t understand it. It is not an easy read, Mr. Speaker. I am happy the Premier actually made some clarifications today.
Mr. Speaker, this is an important time for the people of the Northwest Territories. The Premier must ensure that everyone understands this AIP. We all must ensure that our constituents understand the AIP so that we can hear them and we can all make informed decisions in the best interests of all of our people, aboriginal and non-aboriginal alike, and for the future of our Territories.
Later this afternoon I will be asking the Premier some questions on how he and his Cabinet intend to inform the people of the Northwest Territories on the details and realities of this AIP, how he intends to explain the content and ensure as much as possible that people understand how this AIP may benefit all of our people, how this deal improves upon the Yukon deal, how we will be able to use this AIP to negotiate a final deal with our aboriginal partners which gives us the ability to develop and implement vision for land and resource management, socio-economic planning and environmental stewardship.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Mr. Speaker, I believe that the NWT public share in the optimism that the prospect of managing our own resources and gaining more control over our economy brings. We have been here many times before and somehow we manage to squander it every time it comes up. We must move forward based on mutual interests. We must work together. To make things better, we must be informed about the issues. We must want a strong Territory for all of our residents regardless of the geographical location and we must act.
Mr. Speaker, I suggest that we know about the benefits of devolution and about the risks. We care about making things better and know that we need to control our resources and gain net fiscal benefits to do something about it. So let’s do it, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I am going to speak about the planned closure of the Edmonton Municipal Airport. This definitely will affect my constituents directly. Should this become an eventuality, people from the Nahendeh riding will have to experience a time element important for emergency medevacs. This amount of time can be the difference between life and death.
We, of course, do not see yet any alternate plans to serve the people of the North. The media in Alberta has reported the tentative plans of using the Edmonton International Airport and ambulances, and then there is the report that routing northern medevacs all the way to Calgary. This does not make any sense to us. It might for Albertans, but not to us Northerners. We are stakeholders in this whole debate. We should be part of the process of developing a strategy to accommodate medical needs should they close this airport.
I think it is also important for Northerners to know what our strategy is. What will the Minister of Health and Social Services and our government do to best serve our emergency medical needs? Remaining silent on this issue is not an option. Saying it is a decision of the City of Edmonton is the wrong thing to do.
We must be vocal and we must have a good strategy to take care of our residents in the Northwest Territories. We do have some time; a couple of years at the most, I think. Before this happens we should use that time wisely and use every resource we have to develop the best strategy for our North and Northerners.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Reports indicate increasingly severe effects of climate change on northern regions. The latest U.S. reports describe conditions such as increasing permafrost temperatures around the globe, the lowest snow accumulations in the North since 1966, warming summers with longer spring melt seasons, and increasing rates of loss of sea ice.
Record low water levels reveal an example of local effects. How many props did you go through this year out on the big lake? It’s estimated that permafrost melt at past rates will cost us greater than $400 million over 20 years repairing infrastructure damage by collapsing soils. This figure can only be rising. Climate change is coming at us from every direction and the more we learn, the more extreme the picture gets.
Throughout this Assembly I’ve pressed the urgency of aggressive action to halt and start rolling back the NWT contribution to worsening conditions, demonstrating leadership that can be emulated around the poles. With the support of my colleagues, this government has taken strong action to get its House in order and I applaud these efforts. With public support, this government must now increase the contribution of our entire society through leadership and outreach.
In the current development of a new Greenhouse Gas Strategy, I’m pressing for ambitious emission reduction targets with clear plans on how to achieve them. I spoke on the review of MACA budgets on continuing inaction to establish energy efficiency standards for municipal infrastructure constructed with territorial dollars and other missed opportunities. More details were announced this week on the City of Yellowknife’s incredible progress towards tapping geothermal heat for the centuries ahead. Fort McPherson is looking at local biomass heat. The NWT Association of Municipalities has launched its ambitious Climate Change Adaptation Project, with other staff looking at mitigation. Our partners across the NWT society are addressing the challenges and we can do more.
European examples show that when government leads by creating carbon emission limits, the economy takes over and drives the results on the basis of low carbon’s improved economics. Government must lead by creating a systemic and interlocking network of law and policy to help our citizens do their part. The GNWT has had great success and we are achieving big cost savings. Let’s do even better by harnessing the commitment of all our citizens.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to talk about the potential closure of the Edmonton Municipal Airport. This is a direction provided by the City of Edmonton that they have been taking and studying for some time.
I’ve met and talked with the Edmonton mayor, Stephen Mandel, and have expressed the concern of many Northerners. He says they have a plan, which begs the question: What is the plan that our Territory has and how does it work for our residents when it comes to health care? Is our government ahead of this problem or even trying to get ahead of this issue? Or is it on the heels waiting for the final knockout? Is the government’s plan a head in the sand or even, looking outside today, in the snow? Depending on the season, of course. Because leadership is not demonstrated by sitting and letting someone else make the decision for us.
I have asked the mayor of Edmonton to come to Yellowknife to talk to Northerners and he has told me he would. I’ve written to him to follow up and we need leadership from this government to encourage and certainly make sure he does.
Where is our plan? Change isn’t always bad, but I can tell you when it comes to the unknowns, it causes great concern. Does the City of Edmonton’s plan dovetail with our vision of future health care? I can tell you that there is not one person who doesn’t care about health care in one form or another. This summer, while I knocked on doors as I do each and every summer trying to get to as many as I can, many people said this issue resonates with them. This issue resonates all across the North in one form or another.
We recently saw Envision Edmonton hammer away at this problem. They had an opinion, so where is ours? The mayor of Edmonton had told me they have a plan to accommodate. My question is: Does that work for Northerners? Are we involved in the development of that plan? That plan may not be bad, that plan may not be good, but we have to be involved in it on the ground level.
We are not voters in the city of Edmonton, but I told the mayor of Edmonton that we certainly are stakeholders and issues like health care are significant issues that affect all Northerners. This issue potentially could change the way future health care is delivered in our North. Again for better or perhaps for worse, that change will be received with passion and concern. Right now it’s only driven by confusion. In an emergency when seconds matter, what is this government doing as time ticks away?
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement is more in line with the airports and the importance of airports to isolated communities with off-road access. I’m talking about Aklavik and the airport that’s presently there and the concerns they have under the existing legislation coming into effect his year. This is regarding the CAR 704 regulation. I think the concern they have is that presently there are times when you do have to have certain types of aircraft, whether dealing with medevacs or bringing in goods and services, and the movement of people.
One of the issues includes the insurance coverage people have travelling into these communities on single engine aircraft. In most cases, government employees are not allowed to fly in single engine aircraft because of insurance reasons. The same should apply to the clients we have travelling for medical reasons or for government services.
I think it’s important that this government takes a look at our Northwest Territories airports to ensure we are meeting our requirements under the regulation changes, by increasing the width of a lot of these airports from 3,000 feet to 3,500 or 4,000 so they can meet the requirements for the different types of aircraft. I think it’s important to work with those communities that are off-road and that depend on air transport as a means of delivering goods, services and people to those particular communities.
At the appropriate time I will have questions for the Minister of Transportation.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to speak again about the provision of health services and the changing landscape of those services provided to NWT residents in Alberta.
Back in May I asked the Minister of Health and Social Services whether or not she had written a letter to the Government of Alberta or the City of Edmonton outlining our government’s concern over the impending closure of the City Centre Airport in Edmonton. She said, yes, we have written letters. To make a long story short, it took over two months to get a response from the Minister. That was only after she was threatened by an ATIP request from my colleague Mr. Abernethy to produce the letters. The letters came and, lo and behold, none were signed by our Health Minister. Letters were written by senior management to other bureaucrats in Alberta and some consultant in Missouri.
The bottom line is that this Minister did not take a position to defend our government, our communities, and the health and well-being of the public here in the Northwest Territories. Given the fact that the Health Minister did not get out in front of the closure of the City Centre Airport in Edmonton, how am I supposed to believe that the Minister is paying attention to ensure that the appropriate operational plans and infrastructure are in place before our medevac flights are moved out to the International Airport? Who is speaking for us and the public? Is it the Minister or is it her staff?
The Alberta government is currently undergoing some major health care reform initiatives that will definitely impact the services that our residents will receive in Alberta. It could very well mean that all medevac flights are directed to specific locations, such as Grande Prairie and Calgary. How exactly are we a part of these developing reform initiatives in Alberta? What will be the impact on our residents here in the Northwest Territories? What will it cost our government?
The Minister stated back in May that we are deeply involved in making sure that we minimize the impact of the possible closure of the Edmonton City Centre Airport. Well, I hope the Minister will take a leadership role in ensuring that we get the very best services and results for the people of the Northwest Territories.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I am seeking information on exactly what the NWT Housing Corporation is doing to ensure that this government is not left holding the bag on costs pertaining to the declining CMHC Social Housing Fund. As it stands, if the NWT Housing Corporation does not have a plan to address the impacts of the CMHC declining fund, we as the GNWT will be left with the responsibility of providing the budget to continue the Social Housing Program.
Currently CMHC provides millions of dollars for operations and maintenance of over 2,000 units across the Northwest Territories. As CMHC withdraws funding, it is anticipated by the federal government that the GNWT will develop a strategic plan to address the issue and make withdrawal of CMHC funds as seamless as possible.
As I see it, the only option we as legislators will be left with if the NWT Housing Corporation does not have a plan is to take the money that is currently going to supporting homeownership and divert it to fill the gaps in public housing by CMHC’s withdrawal.
I spoke in the House on numerous occasions about the lack of money going to homeowners as is. We cannot afford to use the money that is normally targeted for homeowners to support the public housing portfolio because the NWT Housing Corporation was unable to develop a plan to develop this serious issue.
The NWT Housing Corporation needs to examine its public housing portfolio and develop a plan that reduces the number of units in that portfolio. At the end of the day when the CMHC withdrawal is complete, the NWT Housing Corporation will only be getting enough money from CMHC to operate about half the units.
I don’t want people in the NWT to pay for the lack of planning by the NWT Housing Corporation with their houses. As I have said in the past, the NWT Housing Corporation must start paying attention to their homeowners in the small communities where there is no market and low employment. If this doesn’t happen, we’ll have a major expense on our hands as far as homeowners’ units across the NWT that are beyond economic repair and in need of replacement.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
If this doesn’t happen, we’ll have a major expense on our hands insofar as homeownership units across the NWT that are beyond economic repair and in need of replacement at a cost of $300,000 to $400,000 per unit. So you can see, the strategic plan to address the CMHC declining fund is critical.
I will have questions for the Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation on the matter.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I continue my efforts to convince NWT residents and some MLAs, unfortunately, that driving a car and using a cell phone are not compatible. I will put some more info out there and add to the public information, which apparently is necessary to make NWT drivers realize the dangers of distracted driving.
Someone on a cell phone while driving is four times more likely to have a collision than a not-on-the-phone driver. That increase is compared to the risk of collision when driving with normal background distractions, not compared to ideal circumstances where there are no distractions; a vehicle at rest, for instance.
Making calls on a cell phone are definitely more risky than listening to the radio or talking to passengers.
I’d like to share a very true but scary story, Mr. Speaker. A few weeks ago a car was observed settling into the bush at a bend in the road on the Ingraham Trail. The car had driven across the left-hand lane at the turn and straight off the road into the bush. There was no effort to make the turn at the corner, no evidence of any use of brakes, no skid marks on the road, not even any tire tracks in the ditch. The driver was seemingly not aware that the road had a turn in it and literally flew off the road. The person emerging from the vehicle, cell phone in hand, was very lucky; the car was totalled but the driver was not hurt. Thankfully, no other vehicle was coming the other way at the instant the car crossed the road, but a few seconds later there would have been a head-on collision. Mr. Speaker, it’s important to note that this happened on an NWT highway, not a municipal road.
Just one week ago today, Mr. Speaker, the St. Pat’s Students Against Distracted Driving recognized National Students Against Impaired and Distracted Driving Day. Part of their ad from last week’s paper said, “It’s legal but you know it’s foolish so you don’t eat yellow snow, so why would you use a cell phone while driving?”
Good question. How would each of us answer it? How many of us pull over to answer our cell or ignore the call and let it go to voicemail? Not 100 percent of us, I’m sure. In an informal poll conducted by the SADD students one morning last week they counted 27 or more people driving while using their cell phone in just one hour. That’s a lot of distracted drivers, Mr. Speaker, and at the time of day when we have the highest volume of traffic.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, a local travel agency has an ongoing challenge to NWT residents and businesses challenging us to make our cars a safe cell phone zone; no use of a cell phone in the car. So far nine businesses have taken up the challenge, but that only means there’s so many more who could join up. I’m hopeful my statement today will encourage more individuals and businesses to take up this challenge. It’s easy. Just go to www.topofworldtravel.com, fill out the form and send it in. I dare everyone who is listening to do it. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to make my statement on distracted driving.
Mr. Speaker, distracted driving is nothing new. We like to associate it with texting and talking on cell phones, but when I was a kid growing up and we went on a road trip with our family, I can hardly believe my father wasn’t distracted with five screaming kids in the backseat of the station wagon and occasionally had to reach his arm around and give a few of us a little discipline, shall we say.
Back in those days, also, Mr. Speaker, they had bench seats in vehicles in the front, and I often used to ask my dad why it took two people to drive that vehicle, because people would be sitting so close together, so cosy on that front seat. Hard to believe those people weren’t distracted.
Distracted driving is not a new concept. However, Mr. Speaker, we had a motion come forward from this side of the House in a previous sitting and I was the swing vote, and I did not support the motion to recommend to our government that they institute, that they develop a legislative proposal to put in place a deterrent, a legal deterrent for people to be texting or talking on cell phones or handheld devices while they were driving a vehicle.
Mr. Speaker, although my name is Jane and I am a distracted driver…
---Laughter
…I am here today to say that if that vote were taken again today, I would have to support that initiative from this side of the House.
Mr. Speaker, just the other day I was driving down Franklin Avenue, and I thought this could not happen to me, but I was texting while driving and I almost rear ended a vehicle in front of me. I really pride myself in being a multi-tasker and I thought that it’s only other people who couldn’t do this, like my husband, who is painful to watch him even text, never mind drive and text, and I thought that I was very good at texting with that one hand and that would never happen to me. However, Mr. Speaker, it gave me quite a scare and I do think that we, as a government, need to do the responsible thing and bring forward, in a timely manner, legislation that would fine and penalize people from texting and speaking on cell phones while they are driving, and bring this into effect as soon as possible. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to welcome into the gallery a constituent of Inuvik Twin Lakes who also happens to be the mayor of Inuvik, Mr. Denny Rodgers. Welcome.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Mark Bogan, a constituent of the Great Slave riding.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I may, I would also like to recognize His Worship Denny Rodgers, the mayor of Inuvik, who is also a little brother of my first best friend when I moved to Yellowknife, Canada, 32 years ago. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bob McLeod.
