SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins tabled an unconventional document in the legislative assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 9 - a cartoon.

Robert Hawkins, MLA for Yellowknife Centre, tabled this cartoon in the legislative assembly Tuesday in an attempt to highlight the need for a ban on cell phone use while driving in the Northwest Territories.

The image reads: "Honk if you love Jesus, and text while driving if you'd like to meet him."

It ties in to what Hawkins has been hammering at in the legislature since last fall. He wants using cell phones while driving banned on NWT roads, like they have been in numerous provinces. Last week, Hawkins brought up the issue with Transportation Minister Michael McLeod, who said consultations were ongoing.

Citing the motion that was defeated last fall, McLeod said he didn't want to create legislation that would fail.

In an interview, Hawkins said one defeated motion shouldn't end the discussion on banning cell phones while driving.

He said the argument that driving in the North requires different rules doesn't stand.

"What makes driving any different here?"

Hawkins said he's working with Students Against Drunk Driving to create a petition about the dangers of cell phone use while driving.

"Why do the kids get it and the adults don't?" he said.

Action on cost of living needed

Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay said the high cost of living in the territory is driving people away and costing the territorial government money. Speaking in the legislative assembly on Feb. 10, Ramsay said every family of four that packs up and leaves costs the government approximately $90,000.

He said the territorial government needs to find "meaningful and tangible" ways to lower the cost of living, while criticizing the Strategic Initiative Committee for doing "absolutely nothing in two years."

He recommended the GNWT create a joint committee to look at ways to lower the cost of living in Yellowknife.

"We can't afford to wait any longer," he said.

Ramsay said people may be earning more now then they were 15, 25 years ago, but, "there's little question they're worse off."

"Working poor, Mr. Speaker, is a term that accurately affects many people in this city," Ramsay said.

Premier Floyd Roland responded by saying people would benefit from the government's efforts to lower the cost of energy and pointed out there were no tax increases in the past budget.

Ramsay said the majority of people don't relate to what the premier was saying, and only know how much they're paying in bills every month.

"You can talk about all the electricity rate reviews you want ... I think the government has to come clean about what you've been doing and lay it out for us," said Ramsay.

Northern House open for business in Vancouver

Calling it a "smash hit," Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister Bob McLeod said more than 20,000 people have visited Northern House, the pavilion in Vancouver for the three territories, since it opened Jan. 15.

McLeod, who has visited the pavilion twice, said so far there's been a "Diamond Week," showcasing the diamond industry, a "Rare in Nature" fashion show, featuring diamonds, jewelry and fur fashions from Fort Providence and "Tourism Days," promoting tourism to the NWT.

McLeod, Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins, Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay and Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya have already made trips to Vancouver. Several more MLAs will be flying down in the coming weeks.

Premier Floyd Roland was scheduled to attend the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games today in Vancouver.