Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Minister. Are the communities somewhat consulted about how the liquor is sold when it is brought into the communities in terms of the product that is on sale? How are the communities consulted with the sale of alcohol in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize two former chiefs, Gerry Cheezie and Richard Edjericon.

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It is a crying shame that in this day and age that we get money in and we want to make differences in the communities, yet the people in the smaller communities are suffering through another dusty summer here. I want to see if the Minister would commit to Cabinet to see if they can get more money into the chipsealing program, so the communities in the Sahtu don't have to wait another two, three, or four years in terms of getting the chipseal program in the communities. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In talking about poking holes, I want to ask the Minister of MACA in terms of the dust control programs in the Sahtu communities, specifically the chipsealing programs. In terms of the chipsealing program, can he inform the good citizens of the Sahtu if they have to suffer another year with all the dust that is flying around in our communities and will the elders at least be able to breathe a little easier this summer in Fort Good Hope? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask Minister Roland if he would consider acting on the ban of overproof alcohol in the Northwest Territories, especially in the Sahtu region where there is considerably high concern in two of my communities, and acting on it right away even pending the review of the Liquor Act. This is an urgent problem in the Sahtu region, Mr. Speaker, and we don’t need to wait for consultants to tell us this. Would the Minister consider acting right away on this request? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow up on my Member’s statement today. My question is to the Minister of Finance. On the sale of alcohol and liquor in the Northwest Territories, specifically the contracted liquor stores, how is the sale of alcohol controlled in the Northwest Territories with the contracted vendors? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we all know the devastating addiction problems we are having in the Northwest Territories. Addictions are ruining our communities and our homes. Alcohol is one of the worst addictions in our communities. With alcohol, we don’t have to find someone to sell it to you. You don’t have to search in back alleys, as it’s always available in communities. In fact, in magazines and on television, they encourage you to buy it and buy a lot of it because they say it will make your life better and you will have more fun with it. Well, they couldn’t be more wrong, Mr...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment if he would look into having children who may wish to go out on the land during the spring breaks as part of their educational curriculum so that they are not dinged for missing certain days of the school year, so that is maybe an educational social issue or health issue that is part of the curriculum. Would the Minister commit to look into some type of option that would support this initiative? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Then can the Minister confirm for me that the education authorities can decide on their own when spring breaks will occur in the year?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize also some of the distinguished members from the Northwest Territories who are here from outside of the capital. I’d also like to recognize constituent Ethel Blondin-Andrew and her husband Leon Andrew and the staff member Sarah Cleary to the House. Also, I would like to recognize Antoine Mountain from Fort Good Hope, a painter here in Yellowknife; and John B. Zoe from the Tlicho territory. Mahsi and welcome. Spring is out so it is hard to sit in here.

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