Glen Abernethy

When I met with the individuals in 2016, I indicated to them clearly that we intend to move forward, we intend to work with them collaboratively, but we need a bit of time. We have just rolled out a single authority in the Northwest Territories, and I indicated at that time we will be in a better position to begin formal discussions in August 2017. I live up to that commitment. We are living up to that commitment. In the interim, we have worked with the chair. We have gathered information to help us present some information when we do meet with them. I do not think the Member is interpreting...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I and my colleagues recognize that the current funding structure for the shelters has led to some challenges and some inconsistencies. Last year, I did direct the Department of Health and Social Services to examine and work with the shelters to identify some of these immediate pressures. As a result of this work, we were fortunate to receive $120,000 in new funding to offset the increased operating costs of family violence shelters across the Northwest Territories.

When I met with the shelter network in 2016, I also committed to exploring the potential for a...

In order to have an informed discussion, we need to actually understand where we are. We have done some preliminary work to determine where we stand, where the shelters stand, and we have been working with the chair of the shelter network who represents all of the shelters across the Northwest Territories. We have done this by e-mail correspondence, but also in face-to-face meetings.

As part of that work, the department has begun work on a bit of a zero-based budget exercise as our first step to determine the funding requirements, as well as the best and most equitable funding model for family...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Ms. Nicole Enge. Nicole just finished her second year of political science at the University of Toronto, and she has been hired for the summer as one of our special project coordinators for the Executive Council offices here in the Legislative Assembly. Welcome.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, the federal government is moving forward on the National Strategy for Poverty Reduction. I have had the opportunity to meet the federal Minister responsible in cooperation and collaboration with my provincial and territorial counterparts, where we had an opportunity to explain some of the realities that we face in our different jurisdictions, talk about some of the actions that we are undertaking, and provide some advice on a broad approach on addressing poverty at a national level.

Mr. Speaker, I know that the federal government has also been doing a...

With the legalization of marijuana in Canada, one of our primary foundations in moving forward is promotion and awareness of the negative impacts of marijuana. This is one of the things that we are going to be working on. Currently, marijuana use is already normalized both in the Northwest Territories and across Canada, which is, I think, one of the reasons the feds may have considered moving forward in this way. The message is still the same, Mr. Speaker. We have heard loud and clear from residents that they want options, and we are looking at providing the widest range of options possible...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the reserve has actually submitted a proposal on the use of that particular building on the reserve. Their design includes turning that into more of a wellness centre to provide different types of programming for residents of the Northwest Territories, in particular the South Slave. We have received that proposal. We have reviewed it, and we are working with the band now to turn the building over to them, so that they can move forward with the plan that they have put forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I went too fast? On my right is Lisa Cardinal. She is the director of corporate planning and evaluation; on my left is Thomas Druyan, who is legislative counsel.

Yes, please.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just to be clear, medical professions in the Northwest Territories are at a different collective agreement, a different bargaining block, and they have different pension plans and a different salary system. We don't really have that problem with physicians at a territorial level. They can go to Hay River; they have rights in Hay River and Stanton. Where it is a problem is with the staff, the unionized staff within the Hay River Authority, but unionized staff and staff outside the Hay River Authority. I have had the opportunity to talk to individuals who...