Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Premier. This government needs to show stronger leadership in taxing the high costs of basic goods. In my Member’s statement I highlighted the Nutrition North Program.

Has the Premier and his Cabinet reviewed the findings of the Auditor General’s report and public health experts who have clearly demonstrated deficiencies in the Nutrition North Program? As an obvious next step, is this government putting pressure on the federal government to fix fundamental problems with Nutrition North or even bringing the old Food Mail back? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This government needs to do more to tackle the high cost of living. In the remote communities the cost of food and household essentials are double or even triple what you pay in Yellowknife. Nutrition North, which is run by the federal government’s department of Aboriginal and northern affairs, has replaced the old Food Mail Program.

In theory, Nutrition North makes healthy food more accessible and affordable. Its key mechanism is a transportation subsidy given to retailers.

A litany of complaints from northern residents and legislators about the program’s effectiveness was...

I think this government has a long history of a very good written relationship with First Nations. Recent efforts to try to move forward are really commendable in terms of some of the leaps and bounds we have made thus far. My hope is there could be greater efforts to at least bring on board the remaining outstanding regions that have unsettled land claims. That’s the Tlicho and Dehcho First Nations.

I understand the Premier has committed to meeting with the Dehcho First Nations. He stated recent offers between DFN and the GNWT have been rejected. I’m inclined to ask why those offers were...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s encouraging that the three northern regions, the NWT, Yukon and Nunavut, are working together to try to tackle and meet the needs of our Northerners in terms of trying to curb the high cost of living.

In the interim, as the three governments are trying to work together, would the Premier agree to bring back the old Food Mail Program? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Part of the initiatives in trying to educate the public is prevention strategies, and the department should be commended in terms of doing the public campaign in terms of informing citizens of the facts of smoking.

What are some other healthy living initiatives that the department is undertaking to combat the overall costs of cigarettes and cancer, and so forth that affect people in the NWT? Mahsi.

What is the Department of Health and Social Services doing to help people quit smoking cigarettes? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am proud to say I’ve been smoke-free of cigarettes since November 10, 2014. Before this time, I would wake up first thing in the morning and have a coffee and a cigarette, smoke up to about four packages of cigarettes a week, and experience exhaustion and fatigue. I could only smoke outside, and the smell of cigarettes clung to my clothes.

I thought of quitting smoking cigarettes for a long time. [English translation not provided.]

Like many of my peers, I started smoking as a teenager as it looked cool and helped me fit into the crowd. Tobacco use also extended to my...

I want to thank the Minister for his reply. One of the experiences that I have had is that you could approach your family doctor or physician in trying to assist you in terms of quitting cigarettes. They could offer a smoking cessation program. One of the examples of what kind of services that the people could find through their doctors is the patch, the Nicoderm patch, and that is what I personally use.

What is the department doing to reduce the overall impacts and costs to the health care system caused by chronic illness caused by smoking cigarettes and tobacco use? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services. What are the current rates of smoking in the Northwest Territories? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for highlighting a lot of the initiatives that the 17th Assembly has accomplished. I think we could do more and it’s good that there has been a strong working relationship, especially at the community level.

I wanted to ask, in terms of this year’s budget, the ‘15-16 budget and going forward, what are some of the prominent and significant, perhaps, commitments that the Minister’s department will be focusing on? He has mentioned biomass initiatives, he has mentioned forest management agreements that are still in the development stages...