Shane Thompson

I thank the Minister for his answer; however, it seems that we're continuing to delay, delay, delay, and that is a concern for the residents, just not in my riding but a number of ridings. What will the Minister or the department do with leases that are expiring until they're dealt with?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that equity leases are leases on Commissioner's lands, where the leaseholder has a commitment from the government that their lease payments will be put towards the eventual purchase of their land. In this House, I have been asking about equity leases for a long period of time. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please provide an update on how his department is working to resolve this issue, and how many equity leases exist on Commissioner's lands in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his answer. I guess I'm a little concerned if the lease payment says at the end of the day you've got to continue with your payment, a dollar a day and that, but what is this government doing to ensure all leaseholders who have equity leases in place are treated fairly by this government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I apologize if I confused everybody in the House here. I was talking to the Minister of Lands, which was the same Minister of Justice. How will the department deal with this extra workload; because we're talking a number over 200 land leases there, equity leases, so how will the department work with that?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome everybody back. I hope you had an enjoyable summer. I would have to say mine, like most of you, went very quickly.

Today I would like to recap my summer adventures. Like most of you, I was dealing with constituents' issues. Some were more complex than others. Each session becomes a learning opportunity and a good reference for future challenges people face.

A couple of weeks later Minister Schumann and Minister Sebert did a regional tour to all six communities. I believe the trip was very helpful for the Ministers to see first-hand some of the...

I thank the Minister for his answer. This is very important program and I appreciate the department for the work they're doing in this area, especially with all the bullying that we hear about through the news and from what I'm hearing from parents. Can the Minister explain how this information is shared with parents in the DA member annually so they know that this is a system that the Education Department is implementing in all schools across the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to follow up with some more questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. During the presentation on Wednesday, the Minister and his staff spoke about healthier relationship programming. Can the Minister briefly explain to us what that program involves? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for his answer. Mr. Speaker, this is very exciting news, as we educate our youth on the history of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is Northern Studies 10 is a course requirement for students to graduate. Will these other two Northern Studies courses be deemed prerequisites for our students to graduate? If so, why?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the Indigenous group of people from Colombia. I would like to thank them for showing up here. As well, two friends of mine, Mary, I will not try to say your last name, because I think the speaker did a good job. And of course, Mr. Steven Cooper, who is unfortunately a long-time friend of mine. He knows all my stories, and I have to say thank you for keeping the stories quiet, but remember, if you share stories, I share stories. I would like to thank him, and I would like to thank his firm and his staff for doing all the good work...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his answer. I guess I'm struggling with some of the parents not hearing about it, and it is something like that. I guess, is the Minister able to provide me and other Regular Members with an update package so we can better understand this program and actually help promote this process so that parents are aware of how our education system is working and how we're making it healthier and better for our students? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.