Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I am well aware of the process, and I thank the Minister for telling us that. Are we going to be using this committee, or is the department going to be reviewing this issue? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I appreciate the Minister's viewpoint, but I don't agree with it. I think it seems to me we are taking money the residents, especially our elders, who are our foundation. Even if he is not going go to 3 per cent for across the Territories for land leases, will he get the department to look to see what the cost will be if we waive the land fees for our elders?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the Minister making that commitment on that. In regard to that, is there a plan in place to address this incrementation for JPs so that it is reviewed at the same time that judges are or something like that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier on today, the honourable Member from the Deh Cho was asking the Minister of Lands some questions in regard to support for elders, and I would like to follow up on some of those questions. In some of the communities, the tax fees, elders don't have to pay taxes; their taxes are waived. Has the department looked at something similar for elders? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the Minister giving me that commitment to get back to me on it. From my understanding, they have regulations, but it is never incremented the way the judges are. There is an increment paid, and they come back and do it. When was the last time that justices of the peace have seen an increase for their valuable work? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Premier for that answer. I appreciate the government trying to do what we can do with the BC government. Unfortunately, they seem to be not listening to us in some of these areas. Has the GNWT made a public announcement regarding this position on this mega project and the impact it has on Northwest Territories residents and our First Nations communities?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On page 285, it talks about the justice of the peace program here. I know that we have seen raises for the judges and that. Has the justice of the peace program been looked at? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, British Columbia's proposed $8 billion Site C hydroelectric dam will flood more than 80 committees of the Peace River Valley. First Nations whose land were directly affected will pay the highest price for the so-called "clean energy project." The environmental impact assessment said flooding land for a reservoir would "severely undermine the use of the land, make fishing unsafe for at least a generation, and would submerge burial grounds and other critical cultural and historical sites."

The dam will have significant downstream effect, including on the Slave...

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that. I am not looking at the number of visits; I am looking at the durations that they are in the community. Is it 25 visits where they just come in for a day and they leave, or is it over an expanded period of time? How many days are they in the community? I guess that is the question I should be asking. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the Minister's commitment on that. I guess, would it be easier just for me to work with the detachment in Fort Simpson to see what is going on there and work with them on this matter? Thank you, Mr. Chair.