Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

The Minister must know something that I don’t, because last time I looked, I’m a Regular Member.

---Laughter

But I would be interested in being a Minister down the road. To the question. There doesn’t seem to be support here in the larger centres for junior kindergarten, so will the Minister look at possibly not rolling that out into the larger centres and focus more on the smaller centres? Thank you.

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi. Our role is we want to capture all students, all children as best as we can and that means covering all 33 communities, small communities and larger centres. As the Minister responsible for 33 communities, I want to capture those students, even the unborn students as well.

So we are going to be rolling it out to 29 communities and then the following year we’ll be in Hay River and the last phase will be to cover the Yellowknife sector. So this is an area that has been the prime focus. We are going to be rolling out this fall for the next three-year approach. Mahsi.

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m rising on the heels of my Member’s statement, which I want to continue the questions about working for the everyday family, which, of course, cost is pretty tough on them. Speaking to the question of gasoline, payday loans and cell phone contracts, heavy scrutiny needs to be put on these things.

So my question is to somebody over there in Cabinet, I’m not sure to who we will direct the question to, but the question is: What powers and opportunities avail themselves to the consumer affairs division to deal with these types of problems to demonstrate there is transparency when it comes to fuel pricing, payday loans and cellphone contracts for Northerners? Thank you.

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the fundamental question is what type of government or what kind of society does the

Member envision. He’s calling for government regulation quite regularly in all areas of people’s lives and there is some free market characteristics here that we have in our country that are important. There are things we can do with gas, there are things we can do in some areas, but the fundamental question is what type of society is the Member proposing? What level of government regulation does he expect this government to create so we don’t exist in every facet of everybody’s lives? Thank you.

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you. I guess it’s my job to answer my questions and not be posed them by the government, I guess.

My next question, if the Finance Minister wishes to answer rather than pose a question back to me is, of course, what powers of investigation does the consumer affairs division have in their own ability under the Consumer Affairs Act to go out, scrutinize some of these particular issues as I’ve highlighted, which are gasoline pricing, payday loans and cellphone contracts, in the public’s interest? Thank you.

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you. We have authorities, two in fact, that go out under the consumer affairs bill to look at areas where there are complaints, where there may be concerns. When those are brought forward, they’re dealt with appropriately. Thank you.

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you. This government does put people first when you look at the amount of money we spend on social programs, the type of infrastructure we have, the services to people at all levels and ages in our communities. When it comes to protecting them in the marketplace, that’s an area where we’d have to look carefully. Once again, the Member makes strong statements about wanting to know what we’re going to do. I’m not sure if he wants some type of police state. It’s not clear to me. Thank you.

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I could sit here and point to the loopholes provided by the Minister’s answer about our customers, and certainly our everyday families that are working to get by, but the question is: What proactive powers can be put into place for consumer protection to ensure that they are being protected over the

pariah of poaching, whether it’s high fees, lack of transparency or certainly being held hostage by being the only retailer? We want to put Northerners first. What powers can be put into the Consumer Affairs Act to protect our citizens, not leave them at risk? I would like the Minister to actually answer the question. Thank you.

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you. We’re back to the position where I do answer the questions and the Member doesn’t like the answer. So if the committee has specific suggestions in terms of regulatory reform that will address the concerns of the Member, then let us see them, and as we move forward with the business planning process and when we look at the time we have left in our legislative agenda, if there are changes that are agreed to, we’d be happy to consider those. Thank you.

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.