Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As far as the renewal notice, would the Minister provide some clarity on that, whether that will become the new standard practice of the Department of Transportation? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for the last few years I've been raising the issue of the driver's licence renewals as well as a brand-new driver's licence. I'd like to ask a question to the Minister of Transportation. When can we expect any updates on this matter, or the actual brand-new drivers' licences that he promised in the last budget? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To pick up on one of my colleague’s points, it is Groundhog Day. It is finally time that we have seen that our little gopher over there isn’t afraid of his shadow. I am saying kudos to the guy who actually says he wants to stand up to the Government of Canada. So, finally, let’s see if this tough talk actually emerges to anything but sugarplums in dreams. This statement says, like many other statements, oh, let's talk about the dreams of hydro. Let’s put the initiatives of hydro ahead of children. I didn’t hear any statement saying that children are number one....

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've said in this House that I actually have a class 4 driver's licence and I do get a notice every five years about updating my medical. I was just kind of looking for a yes or no; we will do the notice with the brand-new driver's licence. The Minister brought it up himself; is he going to attach tickets to the renewal of drivers' licences? He sort of brought that up himself, so is that part of the new process that he's developing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Minister could elaborate a little further, does he mean this fiscal year of the '05-06 budget? Which fiscal year is he referring to that we'll get the brand-new driver's licence cards out there? As well, I didn't quite get a clear answer on will they be doing the renewal notices as he has promised in the past? Thank you.

I couldn’t hear you, Mr. Speaker, but I will just assume you are supporting Mrs. Groenewegen in this regard. For sake of ease, I will withdraw them. The only intent was to reference Groundhog’s Day and the groundhog is afraid of their shadow. So, if Mr. Roland and anyone in his family were concerned by the remarks, they were not meant to be intended in any negative way. In that regard, I will withdraw them just for the sake of moving on.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is good news by all means. But would the Minister commit today that he will make every process and possibility of happening that we create accreditation for either Supreme Court justices in the Northwest Territories to perform this duty, or someone else applicable that could do this duty? Would he make that commitment that we could do this and work towards this right away? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise on the heels of my Member’s statement which was about the lack of citizenship courts here in the Northwest Territories and specifically in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, even though typically citizenship ceremonies would be a federal issue, citizenship court is only held here in Yellowknife once a year. Is the Minister aware of this? What is he doing about this problem? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. That makes the next question even easier. Will he commit today that he will write the federal Minister as soon as they are appointed to make sure this happens right away? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the information that the Justice Minister offered. He was quite right that you do not have to be a judge to do this. But, on the short term, we are still suffering under the circumstances of only having this once a year. He is right; I would hate to see July 1st lost as a very important day for new Canadians. Perhaps, would the Minister commit today on the fact that we should contact our territorial counterparts and maybe look at creating a citizen court circuit for the whole North, including the Yukon and Nunavut? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.