Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the Minister looking into that. I am looking forward to seeing the numbers of JPs we have out there. Again, I think it is a valuable service for our system. You know, it helps the RCMP, it helps the community, and victims and people all alike. Again, it is just more of a comment, and I thank the Minister for looking into this matter. Thank you.

Thank you. I am just asking: do we have a system in place to track it? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow up with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. My question is about the seniors' heating subsidy. When the Minister talked about those changes to the program, did the department ask for more money to the department, or did they actually use the existing money to make these changes? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess my concern is I am still hearing of people selling cannabis. What I am asking, though, was if the RCMP is able to confirm with you if they have been able to convict or charge people with this, for selling it, trafficking it. That is what I am asking. I will hope that they are able to give that to you and you are able to report to the House and the committee on that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

If I can ask a question there, Mr. Chair. Last year, I talked about the Justice of the Peace program. Can the Minister elaborate if we have seen an increase in hiring in that area? Appointing in that area, not hiring; appointments of that area. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we talked about legalizing cannabis, it was actually to stop the drug trade with cannabis and that there. What I am hearing right now is that we are not going to worry about that now. Is that correct? Is the RCMP able to actually prosecute individuals that are selling cannabis? Right now, it is supposed to be just for our retailers. Thank you.

The Minister talked about the number, a high number or less. A lot of elders are not even close to that threshold, and even when we see this subsidy provided, it still has a hindrance to these communities, and so our elders are having to make choices. My next question to the Minister is: can she please advise if the monetary allotment has a living index to it?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is great to hear, but what is our success rate? How many Indigenous people are case management workers? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In other words, it is just more funding so that we can cover the costs a little bit more; we are not looking at developing a training program or a program for local Indigenous people that may assist the RCMP to do a better job? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I talked about fuel subsidy for seniors, and I talked about, in Fort Simpson, that $2,700, which works out to about 2,143 litres. Typically, when a fuel tank is filled to between 80 and 90 percent, that works out to be about 960 to 1,080 litres, or two tanks. Can the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment please advise why those changes were made to this program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.