Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions will be directed to the Minister of Transportation today.

In my Member’s statement I talked about good public discussion on issues such as using cellphones while driving and, of course, smoking in cars with children. As a package issue would the Minister be willing to get out there and see what Northerners want and what they’re willing to have as new, or potentially new, road-safety rules?

Will there be detail in this budget that demonstrates where I can look and see what value is placed on a potential program? For example, if a senior — I have a few of them in the riding — wanted to access aging in place money for a walk-in bathtub, those types of things…. Those are the types of things I’m talking about when I say aging in place. Is there something here that a senior could tap into if they wanted a ramp into their house? They are finding the stairs just a little difficult to challenge as they move on in years, but they have many good years left in their own home. That’s the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to talk about a couple of transportation issues that have been on the horizon of that industry.

Across Canada there have been a number of concerns emerging that are under public discussion, which are all about cellphones and smoking while driving in vehicles with children present. The issue really is about the public debate and the fact that there needs to be a public debate on these types of issues for transportation here in the North.

I’ve had a number of constituents come forward through e-mail to talk to me about what our government is doing on these issues...

I thank the Minister for that. I’ll certainly be more than willing to accept that copy and review the detail further myself.

I find that one of the challenges is…. As an example, I have a constituent who goes to the Yellowknife Housing Authority, and they just don’t have any — not necessarily barrier-free — disabled units; they just don’t have anything available. I don’t think what they’re looking for is the all-inclusive barrier-free unit where every door is fixed, whether the fixtures are changed, whether the ramp is there or not. They’re looking for accessible living, and we just don’t have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that was well said, and I don’t think the motion could have been written any better. There’s only one aspect that I’d like to highlight, which is housing for the disabled. It’s a concern and a passion of mine to make sure that we have appropriate housing for those in need. Although this motion doesn’t speak to it specifically, we know that this funding goes to help people in that area.

It’s a principle I really believe in, Mr. Speaker. In the past I’ve had the chance to work with Mr. Krutko, when he was Housing Minister, to help bring better living, a better...

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Unanimous consent granted.

Has the Department of Housing considered giving it to Aurora College as an asset for them so they can include it in their programming as opposed to just giving it away to an organization?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll have questions to the Minister of Housing. My questions are about the subject of the Sambaa K’e Healing Lodge.

Mr. Speaker, I’ve been informed recently that a deal has been reached with another organization to turn this into a training centre. I’m just trying to get some sense as to what’s actually happening, who will be responsible for the cost of that and who will be the benefactors.

Can the Minister of the NWT Housing Corp tell me exactly who is in control of this now? Are they paying for the full cost of running this facility? Who owns the facility?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, whomever.

Mr. Speaker, the issue really is: can the Minister tell me how he plans to get out there and get that feedback? He did say his department is monitoring the situation, but how is he getting out there to get feedback from the general citizenship of the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to now move a committee motion. I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Justice immediately undertake a facility review that will outline the present condition of the existing correctional facilities and future space requirements for the correctional system.