Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, family violence commonly happens in a family situation, where there is a relationship between two people. What needs to be understood is the personal wellness of individuals caught up in the cycle of violence. Often alcohol is a major contributor to the incidence of violence and the debilitating legacy of intergenerational trauma because of residential schools.

Mr. Speaker, family violence rates in the Northwest Territories are appalling and at crisis levels. Therefore we made it a part of the mandate of the 18th Assembly.

In 2013, the Northwest Territories'...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my final question is more likely to be two questions. The first question would be: does the Minister feel we have done all we can to address our priority in the 18th Assembly by addressing family violence? Or does he also feel that this whole challenge would probably flow into the 19th Assembly? Masi.

I would like to thank the Minister for his reply. The other question that I have, we need to get beyond the attitudes in terms of the whole crisis of family violence in communities. We need to try to at least have some discussions and some of the cultural, and the barriers that we have to go through. One of the challenges in my view, we need to ensure that the initiatives that we undertake has a wide roll out, that it's not just perhaps, that Yellowknife is basically making statements on family violence. The regions and communities have to be involved. How is the Minister and his department...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My last question is, you know, I live in Fort Providence. The ice goes out about May 12th or thereabouts, and then it follows, maybe, from there, north to Inuvik within a two-week period. The river is pretty well open within that period of time, but unfortunately, Great Slave Lake ice persists to keep the lake frozen, and MTS, their operations have to stand still during that time, while the river is flowing freely.

The point that I am making is that there have been changes in river breakups. We are seeing changes in terms of the sea ice flow up in the High Arctic, and my...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to thank the Minister for providing that insight as to why the base has to be in Hay River. The Minister speaks very confidently in terms of how decisions were made to ensure that the base continues to exist in Hay River, and he makes reference to, you know, the volume of trucking and the costs of, perhaps, the railroad.

If there have been studies, could he make, perhaps, those studies and analysis to committee level in this House? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit to working with MACA to review community plans and zoning bylaws together to ensure smoother land transfer to communities by eliminating additional process layers? Mahsi.

Once again, having a home of course is the biggest investment that a person will undertake in their lives. At the same time, it is also an investment in the community, but, in some communities, there is no land.

Can the Minister commit to working closely with communities to open up larger areas of land for development, in an effort to step away from piecemeal development and towards a more holistic approach?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too would like to recognize Erin Porter from Enterprise, who is also a director from the South Slave for the Mackenzie Recreation Association. As well, I would like to recognize Lyla Pierre of Sambaa Ke and also just to congratulate the Mackenzie Recreation Association for their 25th year anniversary. Welcome and mahsi. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question was: the Minister makes reference, very confidently, to transportation through the trucking industry in terms of bringing fuel to Hay River, by railroad as well, and also, he seems to suggest that there has been some analysis, and whether there has been some studies in terms of cost comparisons as to an existing base in Hay River, as opposed to, perhaps, an option like Inuvik or Tuktoyaktuk as a base of operations for MTS. Would he share those studies and findings or analysis with the committee? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, it is very concerning in terms of what is happening way up north. We, in the southern Northwest Territories, you know, have the highways to transport our goods and services to our communities, but unfortunately, people that live way up north, a lot of their goods and services have to be brought in by barges, or sometimes, in this extreme example, flown in because they don't have any other choice. I really sympathize with my colleague, who spoke in terms of ensuring that, you know, people from those communities got some answers.

My question is very basic, and...