Kieron Testart

I am glad that the Minister is looking into this, but this isn't a new issue. I would like the Minister to commit to a timeline if he can, today, on when we are going to have a sense of when this needs assessment work has been completed.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would just like to thank my Honourable friend, the member for Nahendeh, for laying out some of these considerations. I, too, have consulted with some people on this issue. The crux of it is, the NWT students graduate with an NWT senior secondary diploma, and not an Alberta education diploma; and although there are some course equivalencies through the NWT senior secondary diploma such as the Alberta 30-1 or 30-2 language arts course, ultimately, the NWT's diploma is standalone. Universities do not require 1,000 hours when they are considering the NWT's senior secondary...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise again to recognize Mr. Fraser Oliver, Kam Lake constituent and president of the NWT Teachers' Association. I know he has been here every day so far this sitting, and eagerly awaiting the debate on Bill 16, which is today. I am sure he will be very pleased with our proceedings. Thank you.

On that point the intention of this move is to have that separation with government to create a more client-friendly atmosphere. The previous operators of this program had very good relationships with our many, many clients. I may not have heard the response to this question that has been asked, but what is being done to retain their expertise for the nationally recognized program they developed? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Rule 36(3), I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Minister's statement 186-18(2) be moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that response. The Minister acknowledged the community partners that the honourable Member for Hay River North brought up in his line of questions and further recognizes the hard work done by the clients to heal themselves, but at the same time we know that the RFP was not taken up; that it was a rejection of that by those community partners and that as much as we, the Minister, has given kudos to these individuals who have worked hard to rehabilitate themselves is the recognition that only a small number of men. The message is a bit confusing, but does the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Minister, in his statement this morning, the statement we are discussing right now, seeks cooperation and support of all Members of this Legislative Assembly to move forward. I think that has been a challenging proposition for many of us. The merits of this program are undeniable. I have a few questions. I would like to thank my honourable friends on this side of the House for canvassing well the concerns of both the community and honourable Members on the many questions that they are still waiting on for this program.

The Minister said that all counsellors will be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the following two-page document entitled "Timeline of Cannabis-Related Issues in Canada from 2015 to 2017." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I guess what I am getting at, Mr. Speaker, is that beyond those principles, there are a number of extremely technical issues. I will ask the Minister this: what is the department's approach to communities that wish to prohibit the sale and use of marijuana products in their communities? How has the working group addressed that issue, and have they made any recommendations to the Minister?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that the chair of Committee of the Whole leave the chair and report progress.