Robert Hawkins

Mr. Chairman, points of order are the next item on the agenda.

Mr. Chairman, the Minister highlighted some interesting things in his opening comments and I just wanted to sort of acknowledge them. I’d like to hear a little more under the Transportation Licence Plate Program to find out when exactly that launch is predicted. A couple of years ago I suggested that we use our tourism catch phrase on our licence plate and I’m not sure what’s evolved from that other than the fact that the Licence Plate Program would start off with some new ones and I’m just curious if we’ve gone with a bit of a...

Where does that fund sit at financially right now? Have proposals come out of this type of initiative and how much are we talking about could be available for someone who wanted to present a proposal to start one of these types of projects? Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I was glad to hear the Minister mention some barrel recovery. I’ve often said that we should put a bit of a head tax on those types of things such as if someone brings back these empty barrels that have been dumped all over the land. As an example, we give $50 per one that returns, and that’s only an example. I don’t know if that’s feasible or if that’s too low either. I don’t know. I’ve asked for this concept to be thought through, because I think this could provide an excellent opportunity to get some of these things in. You know, when people are coming home off the land, they...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There are a couple areas I’d like to follow up on. Maybe first I’ll follow up on a question raised by Mr. Yakeleya that I do support. It is about removing the old cars and derelict cars or vehicles, whatever the case may be, from the communities along certainly the Mackenzie where they’re accessible. I view it a little bit different in this particular case, but it’s the same problem. Is it possible that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources could foresee potential out there that they could organize something that could draw the cars down to, for example...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister keeps pointing that they talked to them, and that’s right. I mean, YK No. 1 talks to the deputy minister of Education all the time. And as a matter of fact, I bet they talk about schools and educational programs and infrastructure all the time. So, Mr. Speaker, that’s a fair observation, but we’re really coming down to the nuts and bolts of this, which is the consult and the report and the plan. So ultimately, I want to make sure that they get in contact with the YK No. 1 school board. That’s all I’m asking. That’s all that needs to be done...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday in my oral questions and Member’s statement I was talking about the two schools in Yellowknife Centre, one would be J.H. Sissons and the other would be Mildred Hall. In my questions to the Minister I was trying to raise the fact that with these schools there are several areas of renovations that need to be tackled and certainly addressed. The Minister, in his response, said that there was an educational review currently underway. I spoke to some of the officials over at YK No. 1 and they’re not aware of this educational review that’s going on at...

Mr. Speaker, I believe there is a firm role here for government to backstop the public to make sure that regulations and oversight exist before something goes off the rails. Mr. Speaker, it’s clear that these types of loans are given to people with low income or, certainly, to middle income Canadians and puts them in financial risk. Why is the Minister waiting for complaints in order to act rather than doing something? Mr. Speaker, the opportunity exists here. Would the Minister act and look into regulations and develop them in a fair way as seven other provinces have in this country?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement today I talked about payday loans and the fact that I believe the territorial consumer is being left at risk. I think that’s time for this government to take an active interest in this file and rather than wait for an accident to happen, we should take control of it through sound, reasonable regulations.

Mr. Speaker, seven out of 10 of the provinces in this Dominion of Canada have ensured that low rates exist for people who have to go to Payday Loans, and they’ve ensured that the protection of the citizens is certainly a priority.

Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe we’re now on 6-38? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I notice that additional funding for grants eligible to community governments assisting with the insurance and mobile equipment operations has decreased. Of course insurance costs decreasing is welcome news. I certainly hope that’s the answer that explains what the dip is in what looks like, I’ll just call it $150,000, maybe close to $200,000 difference there in the negative. So could the Minister provide some information as to what’s changed in that circumstance? Thank you.

I keep saying taxes; I mean the assessment process. My apologies for that. The deputy minister is answering the question correctly, because I’m saying it incorrectly. What is the cost that Municipal and Community Affairs is foregoing when it comes to the assessment of these properties for tax-based municipalities?