Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to also welcome all the social worker and nursing students here today, in particular, one of my riding, a constituent, Naila Cazon. Thank you very much. As well, I would like to recognize my CA who makes me look good and does all the great work out there. I would like to thank her very much, Debra Richards.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When Minister Schumann talked about, you know, the priorities and that, so can the Minister of Finance explain to us what the Mount Gaudet Access Road, what that money is going to be used for? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I hear the Minister saying you don’t want to get in between the IGOs and their members. Well, some of those members actually are constituents of mine. They are asking me these questions. The trapper that is out there has a cabin there. He sometimes doesn’t go to these meetings, but the Minister wants the DFN or the Acho Dene First Nations to go out there and get that information. When the Minister talks about several stages, is it 100 stages? Is it four stages? Is it 10 stages? Can the Minister tell us how many stages are there and what the final result will be?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week and yesterday I was asking questions of the Minister of Lands. He has informed me through an email about his department and regional staff, and they are doing a great job. I have to give the regional staff kudos for the job that they are doing. They have met with Acho Dene, and tomorrow they will be meeting with the DFN.

Will the Minister, after his staff has a meeting with these two IGOs, will he be willing to provide that presentation to us so that we can now share it with other people? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm looking forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the students, the teachers, and the communities. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister be able to tell us will this change be a new policy moving forward, or is this just a one-time shot for this year?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today the Minister of Culture, Education and Employment did a Minister's statement on renewing the NWT education system, and, on page 3, she spoke about revising the school funding framework to provide resources to ensure no less than two full-time teacher positions are allocated to each school. This is a very important step, and I'd like to thank the Minister and the department for doing this. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister advise why this issue was not addressed before the start of the school year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Dennis Buboire was a true warrior, battling one disease after another up to his passing on June 23, 2018, at St. Boniface Hospital, with his wife, Gloria, and his son, Levi, at his side.

Dennis was born and raised in Pine Falls, Manitoba; lived and worked in Winnipeg and Thompson, Manitoba; Toronto, Ontario; and most recently, Fort Simpson, NWT.

In 2001, Dennis accepted a position with the Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs as a Capital Infrastructure and Works Planning Manager for the Deh Cho region. Fort...

Roughly about $40,000 at the high end. Okay, thank you. When we talk about the petroleum revolving fund, when we talk about this, now we are saying that, using the Minister’s words and I apologize if I didn’t get them exactly right, they are going to eat the cost of the petroleum, the freight being back and forth. That is great that we are getting the petroleum and that into the communities, and I think that is great to hear.

My question, though, is: this revolving fund, how does that impact the cost of fuel next year for all communities? Because I am assuming the purchase is bulk, that is how...

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately today, I rise in this House to inform you about the passing of a respected elder from Fort Liard.

Mr. William Marie Bertrand was born to Marie Angel Timbre and Baptiste Bertrand in Maxhamish Lake on February 19, 1938. He passed away on July 9, 2018. The service was held in Fort Providence a week later.

William went to residential school in Yellowknife. Later, he went on to Fort Smith for his heavy equipment operator training.

William met the love of his life, Mary Jane Williams, in Fort Smith where she was working at a hospital on January 3, 1967. William and Mary Jane...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that. I got a little bit of clarification a little bit better there. When we talk about the rebates to the clients that have these vehicles that are not getting shipped in there, it is great that the department is going to give back the rebates, but will the department make a commitment to these same owners that they will charge them the same freight rate this year for next year? Thank you, Mr. Chair.