Tom Beaulieu

In my Member's statement, I referred to some of the businesses that are potential businesses in Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. I would like to ask if the Minister would direct the Business Development and Investment Corporation to send business development officers into the communities to meet with the community groups in order to flesh out what other possibilities may exist in the community for small business.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about small businesses in the communities that I represent. First, I would like to share some employment statistics about the four communities in the riding. According to Stats Canada, in 2016 the average employment rate in Canada was 60.2 per cent, whereas in the NWT, it sat at 66.2. Comparatively, Fort Resolution's employment rate is 49.3 per cent; Lutselk'e, 45.7; Detah was 44.4; and Ndilo was 26.5 per cent. Imagine, Mr. Speaker, almost three quarters of your working-age people do not have jobs.

Mr. Speaker, with this dismal...

As many people in here know, I bring the issue of unemployment and the employment numbers of the small communities up many times in the House. That's even increased when we start talking about between the ages of 15 and 24. Then the employment rates are really low, when you get to that age category. That is the age category that I am concerned about that may be approaching the elders. You know, most times, Mr. Speaker, elders do not even mind doing it. They would give their last $20 to the youth in their own families, but I would just like to ask the Minister if there is some thought about any...

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is kind of a difficult question. I do not know even know who to pose the question to, so I am going to pose the question to the Minister of Health and Social Services. It's about elder abuse. Mr. Speaker, there is a real fear that there will be increased elder abuse, financial elder abuse, as a result of the legalization of cannabis. I would like to ask the Minister whether the Department of Health and Social Services has had discussions on that issue that may be looming. Thank you.

I have noticed in my work in my business as MLA how helpful the social workers are to the communities in all aspects, right from children to youth. I would like to ask the Minister if there will be any special training given to the social workers in this area, where it pertains to maybe as a result of the legalization of marijuana where it pertains to elder abuse.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Recently the province of Quebec elected a new government. The new government said the legal age for purchasing and consuming cannabis will be 21. The Prime Minister responded by saying that the age proposed by the premier-elect will only feed the illegal cannabis market. The Prime Minister's reason was that people in Quebec between the ages of 18 and 21 will continue to use street dealers to purchase cannabis.

Mr. Speaker, if we don't open the doors for small businesses to get into the legal distribution and selling of cannabis within our small communities, I fear we may...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in that letter the Minister advised priorities and planning that there is an evaluation process. The evaluation process has various steps. In the letter, the Minister indicated that steps 1, 2, and 3 will begin in the fall of 2018. We are well into the fall of 2018. I would like to ask the Minister if the evaluation process of the unauthorized occupants has begun?

One of the options for unauthorized occupants is to take the government to court, and I would like to ask the Minister if going to court over unauthorized occupation includes cabin that are out in the hinterland, like just the regular traditional pursuit cabins?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I heard what he just said, but will the Minister commit to engaging the federal government, I guess, in support of some of the proposals that may come forward? What I am asking is that we need some sort of coordination at some level, and I feel that the GNWT is in the best position to coordinate these type of programs. They have renewable resource officers, that I mentioned in there, who could work hand in hand with the guardians, who could assist in training the guardians. They could work with the rangers. They could work with the various groups in the...

I agree with the Minister, that $25 million set aside for proposals, I do not know what the end result of that was, but at this point the larger amount of money that has been put forward by the federal government of $1.3 billion, I have had all kinds of ideas for it. I would like to ask the Minister if the Department of ENR is prepared and willing to support additional Indigenous guardianship programs should they become of interest in other regions across the territory?