Kieron Testart

Language is important and I obviously have to be careful, as does the honourable Premier.

On the topic of land rights agreements, Mr. Speaker, there was the commitment to have a new offer to the Dehcho processed within 90 days. Was that offer made? I'll just leave it there. Was that offer made? Was a new offer given to the Dehcho in 90 days of the Premier taking office?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since the closure of the Nats'ejee K'eh facility on the Hay River Reserve in 2013, many Northerners have been distressed with the lack of available treatment options here in the Northwest Territories. It is no secret that we have an unacceptably high rate of addictions in the Northwest Territories.

In fact, the GNWT's 2012 addictions survey found that 75 per cent of the population drank at least one alcoholic drink in the 12 months prior to the survey; 21 per cent have used cannabis those 12 months; and 22 per cent of NWT residents had tried an illicit drug...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That's an expensive haircut; it's 15 per cent of their operating budget. So, I mean, this feels all too familiar to what we see with Aurora College, where they were asked to make a reduction. They apparently are developing a strategic plan or a corporate plan and yet decisions are being made prior to the release of that plan. So can the Minister just clarify, Minister, you said there was a corporate plan being developed for BDIC. What is the status of that? Is ITI involved in developing it and when will it be available for review by committee and honourable Members of...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate that. With the tabling of the strategy, are we going to see resources or money dedicated to implementing this strategy as we saw with the Economic Opportunity Strategy? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I'm just going to jump right into my honourable friend's -- or follow up on my honourable friend's comments.

The concern I hear from constituents who are business owners is that in some cases there are companies that have been grandfathered into BIP that are no longer 100 per cent northern-based, although they may have a portion of northern ownership. So are we taking that approach in evaluating BIP, if it's still meeting its objectives?

If you have a company that is owned by, let's say, a European holding corporation but still has a branch in the Northwest Territories...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and certainly there are challenges to developing any kind of industry. My understanding of the fishery as well is that it has been in decline, but there are hard-working people trying to keep it alive, so our government can help do that. I think we are obliged to do so, and it's low-hanging fruit. We have some of the best fish stock in the world and it's a product in high demand. So again, I would just like to reiterate that the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning is firmly behind the idea of enriching this fund and supporting our fishing industry, and again...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we have to give our students the benefit of the doubt. There is an awful lot that goes into pursuing an education degree. I hear the Minister say this often, that he's encouraging them all to study hard and get those degrees. Will the Minister make the commitment to saving this program if enough students graduate? If the entire class graduates, will he put the money back in the program, because that seems to be the criteria he's putting forward today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So if the Minister can just confirm, there is no commercial fishing activity taking place outside of the summer months? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It is a little concerning to hear that we are not sure if this was an evidence-based decision to cut this program, or if it is, in fact, a political decision to cut, to save some money and support the fiscal strategy of the government. Can the Minister at least clarify that point? What is motivating this decision? Is it, again, to meet a reduction target, or is it because we want the best quality education for Northerners?

Thank you for that answer. Mr. Chairman, if the Minister could answer. The commercial fisheries subsidy, freight subsidy, is that currently meeting the needs of our fishers? Thank you.