Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regard to fuel services here, I noticed that, when the Minister talked about MTS, there was no budget line, but fuel services has a budget line. Isn't fuel services a revolving fund, as well? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, thank you very much to the Minister for giving information and clarity to some of these questions. I still have some concerns, though. I can't see our rates going down too low for our secretaries and that, but with hospitals and corrections, I could see it going up. My last question, Mr. Speaker, is: is my understanding that the Minister's role is to ensure that everybody pays their own fair share, including the GNWT? Can the Minister explain what his role is with WSCC? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is my understanding that the Government of the Northwest Territories pays 88 cents per $100 on their payroll. It seems to be very low, especially when we look at departments such as Infrastructure, Health and Social Services, and Justice, in other words, Corrections. Can the Minister confirm that the departments are broken down into their own industry codes, or is the GNWT as a whole classified as one code?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is this fiscal year, or are we talking 2019-2020? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is that time of year when we see a number of individuals end up in the ditch. I have done that myself a few times in my life.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Department of Infrastructure for offering advice for winter driving. Even expert drivers must benefit from a refresher and, if you know anyone who's planning to drive up to the Northwest Territories, I hope you pass these tips along. I would like to share a couple of those tips here today:

make sure every individual in the vehicle has warm winter clothing available;

prepare a winter survival...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Hopefully, this will be really quick. In regard to highway operations, I am assuming this include winter roads in this section? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. I guess I am confused. When we have fuel services, we have amortization in the budget, and then, when we have MTS, we don't have it in there, and both of them are revolving funds. Could you explain the rationale for the difference in that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the Minister for all his answers to this point, and I think it's great to see that the corporation is looking at this and trying to help our elders in the smaller communities, so that's a very positive step. During the presentation, and now on the Floor, the Minister spoke about a northern housing summit. I found this to be very exciting when we were at the presentation and here on the Floor. Can the Minister please tell the House where the summit will be held, when will it be happening, and who will be invited to the summit besides the Standing...

I understand that we are going out and doing community housing plans, and that's really good, but there are 33 communities, and some of the communities are seeing elders' populations grow, increase drastically, here. I spoke in this House about elders in the Nahendeh riding who want to stay in their home communities and prefer their own homes. However, O and M costs may be difficult for them, and they would like to maybe stay in a housing unit. Will the Minister be willing to look at adding fourplex units for communities in the NWT Housing Corporation's plan, should communities show a demand...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is with great joy and sadness that I have learned of Carl Lafferty's retirement, the regional superintendent of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. His dedication and service throughout the past 16 years as an employee with the Government of the Northwest Territories has been greatly appreciated by myself, along with all residents of the Deh Cho.

Prior to his work with the Department of ENR, Mr. Lafferty worked as a park warden with the federal government for 12 years. Mr. Lafferty felt the need for a change, as being a park warden...