Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to congratulate three young male soccer players for being accepted to the U16 North American Indigenous Games soccer team. They are Chase Berrault, Jolan Kotchea, and Angus CapotBlanc. As well, Jordan Nelson was selected as an alternate. On behalf of the community, their parents, and coaches, we are very proud of their accomplishments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We could be going back and forth. I disagree with the Minister. If we are going to look at a program, we should be evaluating it so we can make informed decisions. I will leave it at that. Going forth, when they are talking about this agricultural strategy, have they worked with the Department of Lands as they move forward with this strategy? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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, and I thank the Minister for his commitment there. I look forward to that.

I guess I'm still trying to understand how the family violence shelters work. We don’t have any in our region right now. How is the department willing to work with the authority, I would assume, the wellness committee, on trying to establish one in the region? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to go back to medical travel in regard to it being opened up, or it is going to be opening up, I guess, for competition again for it to be contracted out. Is the department looking at local businesses as well, local airlines, or are they just focused on the main ones like Canadian North, First Air, and Air Tindi? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to table a document from Grand Chief Herb Norwegian with regard to post-secondary cuts to the Education and Social Work programs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the deputy minister for her answer. It wasn't your hearing; it was me on a different track there, so I apologize for that.

So my next question is medical travel. I notice it's an increase of $379,000. Is this a forced growth or is this what we're expecting, unexpected costs coming up that we're not aware of? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Minister for his answer. We have heard in this House the Minister talk about inclusive schooling, that we are above the national average at 17 per cent. However, in this budget, on schedule 2, page 3 of 12, we see a reduction of $1.8 million. Can the Minister please advise this House what this reduction does to the percentage as per our legislation?