Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we are all aware, mental and substance use disorders are among the most serious and key health issues facing our young people in the North. If these disorders persist, the constraints, distress, and disability they cause can last for decades.

Mr. Speaker, it is not surprising that mental disorders, even relatively brief and milder ones, can derail and disable, seriously limiting or blocking potential. In my research, I have been able to find further information that with mental disorders among youth are high rates of enduring disability, including school...

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for informing us that they can't do anything until this budget is passed. Well, we understand that, so now we are going through the business here.

When it comes down to the SEED program, and we are talking about that, is the department developing an evaluation? You are talking about looking at it, but, if you are going to look at it, there should be an evaluation put forth so we can actually make an informed decision in seeing what is out there. Is the department going to develop an evaluation program? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. A number of my colleagues have asked some of my questions, but they have opened up the door for a number of other questions. The Business Development and Investment Corporation, the corporation is developing a corporate plan. The Minister said it is going to be tabled by April 1st. We are done here on March 10th, so is it going to be done by March 10th and tabled in the House, or is it going to be tabled in our later sitting? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is this the area where the farm strategy is in or is it on page 202, Growing Forward 2? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Minister for her answer. I totally support the idea of making sure people file their income tax. So I guess my next question is: now that we understand that it's at the top rent if they don't file their income tax, will the Minister make a commitment if people do file their income taxes that they'll be retroactive to look at their cost for the rent?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my honourable friend from Mackenzie Delta was asking the Housing Minister some questions in regard to clarification on calculation of rent. So can the Minister please explain how rent is calculated if the income tax is not submitted? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I realize my time's going to come up real quick. I guess the thing is, I understand the BIP, and I totally understand the government doing that, or the department doing that. However, there are two components of BIP: there is the territories; and there is local. That needs to be looked at, and see how that is being implemented so we can make sure that we are doing it properly. So I hope once they have done BIP, that the Minister and the department will look at the local component of it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Minister for his answers. During the past two weeks we've heard the Minister talk about funding the department has been giving FOXY and SMASH. Can the Minister advise this House if the funding was for a specific project or a program that the department runs?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess I just have to come back to the question. I understand it's the last year, but is there any money left at the table? We left at the table with this program. Has it just been implemented? Have all the funds been utilized, or has it been left at the table? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Sorry, Mr. Speaker. I got lost with my conversation with my colleague here. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I spoke about mental health and the work that FOXY and SMASH has done in my region. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health and Social Services has spoken about the work the department is doing on the Mental Health Action Plan in the stages that they are presently. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please advise this House what the department is doing in the meantime in this area for the youth? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.