Shane Thompson

Thank you, and I understand you don't want to be showing the schedule, but I guess my question, though, is: does each community get "X" amount of visits per year, not including the patrols? I'm actually saying, it is scheduled to go in there. The people say overnight, they actually meet with Council, they meet with the people. Do these things happen? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is this the Minister's decision, or is this the department's decision, or is this a judicial decision? I guess I will ask that question first.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd just like to follow up on some questions that Mr. Vanthuyne was asking in regard to my riding. In the communities, not Fort Liard, not Fort Simpson, and not Wrigley, but the other three communities, do we have a number of visits that they're supposed to be allocated per year? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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.

I thank the Minister for that answer. Like I said, we had some challenges in trying to find out information with youth who are involved with the department. Can the Minister please tell us what policies are used to deal with youth who are the ward of the department? In other words, if the department has to step in and take the child, what policy is in place to ensure the parents, legal guardians, grandparents are informed of any decisions and/or issues that involve the youth?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to thank the committee for allowing me to sit in. I was not an alternate nor was I a member of the committee, but they allowed me to sit in and provide my viewpoints on this. First and foremost, I have to say that this bill with the amendments is appropriate. I think the Minister has been willing to work with the committee and made positive steps.

I guess I have to make it very clear. These are lotteries for the recreation and sports community, which has a primary focus on youth. That has to be really very clear on that. I totally support that arts needs to be...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the Minister and department looking at that. I understand the process, and I totally agree with you, and it could not happen sooner. I honestly believe, if we could get it going into the next year's budget, it would have a huge impact. Like I said, in my riding I know in one classroom that there were three or four who have been diagnosed, and it's kind of a different range within autism, and then FASD is huge across the territories. So I would just encourage the department to look at implementing it next year, and I can guarantee I will be supporting...