Shane Thompson

This position, was it filled or was it vacant?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today you heard from my Member's statement about the topic of change. As I said in my statement, I have some questions of the Premier to help clear up some confusion and hopefully help the residents of the NWT have a clear understanding what is happening here in this Assembly. Mr. Speaker, Cabinet decided that it was important to freeze excluded employee salaries increases and potential bonuses as part of the government's reduction plan. Mr. Speaker, can the Premier please explain to us in the public why Cabinet froze the excluded employee salary and at the...

If it's 100 per cent funding from the feds, I just need to know if that budget line is 100 per cent funding feds for the French program or is there a percentage that the territorial government puts in there. I think I heard the Minister say it was 100 per cent. 100 per cent/. I don't think I need to have a breakdown if that's what it is. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The North Slave, what does that consist of? What communities? When he's talking about this for the North Slave, what communities are being served? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about change. As I was doing this statement, I went to the Webster's Dictionary to find the simplest definition of change: “to become different; to make someone or something different; to become something else.” Last October, the country of Canada wanted change and so did the people of the NWT. Change did happen. People in the Northwest Territories elected 11 new Members and eight returning Members to the Legislative Assembly in hopes that change will occur for the betterment of the NWT. Mr. Speaker, two candidates running for the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. First thing in regards to the minority language education, second language, instruction, French, I heard the Minister say it was federal funding. Is this a cost share or is it 100 per cent funded by the federal government. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

In regards to a notice of reduction in some of the positions, are these part of the reduction plans, or is it stuff that was something that you guys planned on doing before?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister and the department for doing this. I guess I am still struggling with the amount of money. It is only an increase of $105,000 if my calculations are correct, from the mains revised from last time. To me, it is important. I think we need to be doing it. It is probably one of our struggles and why we have some challenges in meeting national standards in our education. Are you guys going to be monitoring this and seeing if there is going to be a need for increase with the PSTs and actually go on a needs basis? What I mean by that is: do some research in...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for the answer but still at the end of the day, if people in our smaller communities can't access these funds and one of the hindrance is the reporting. Can you not work with the federal government and make sure they understand this so that we can try to get these people in the smaller communities to be able to access this program? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Minister for his answer, but I regretfully disagree. Like, I mean, at no point in time was I aware that these positions were going to be cut. Anything we receive from the finance department was in there. I guess I'll be more diligent in listening and looking at business plans from now on. I'm a little bit disappointed, you know, right now I've lost 1.5 positions in my riding, and two from this department or one full-time position if you look at the two halves. I didn't see it anywhere and I apologize. I guess I must apologize to my riding, because if I've missed it, it's something...