Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Throughout our travels, we heard the issue about enforcement being an issue, whether it was members of the public, community councils, or even enforcement officers. So they were asking these questions and, by having this committee, we can ensure that the new laws are clearly communicated and that we would be able to encourage discussion and informationsharing and provide additional supports to communities with limited resources, i.e. the smaller communities that I'm representing in my riding. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. During our consultation, and especially going into the schools, when we were talking about the education system and getting this material information out there, as some of our colleagues here said, you know, the students were well-informed, but it was based on the Internet and that. Then, when we asked the question in trying to get a good clear direction of it, they basically said that this was not part of the education system. Alcohol and drugs were not part of the education system, and they all said that they should be. It was really interesting listening to the...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, as my honourable colleague from Kam Lake identified, I was the chair who got the opportunity to travel with Members from Deh Cho, Yellowknife North, Hay River North, and Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. We hit nine communities, three schools. Of those nine communities, six of them were part of the original discussion that the government did the consultation process through.

We also, like I said, hit three schools; Deninu, Diamond Jenness, and St. Pats. It was very interesting, and listening to the youth, I guess the biggest thing is we were talking about a difference...

I will probably have to follow up on what he was saying in his answer there. So, Mr. Speaker, when I compare both Commissioner's and NWT leases and the department trying to bring these two leases together, will the department be looking at a 50 per cent reduction for seniors and elders in regard to NWT land, similar to what they do with Commissioner's lands?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on May 25, during our oral questions, I asked the Minster of Lands about lease increases and consultation with the communities, and he said: "I think the proper consultation was done, and the changes that we have made are reasonable." I find this very interesting, to say the least. After devolution, Lands actually increased rates from $100 to $150, which was a 50 per cent increase, but now the Minister and the department has raised leases up by 336 per cent to 560 per cent. So, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain how he feels this is reasonable, to see...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on being elected, we spent a good amount of time working together to come up with the mandate for the 18th Assembly. One of the mandates was to reduce the cost of living for the residents of the Northwest Territories. Well, I guess I must have missed something or did not understand what we meant by "reduction of cost of living." On March 15, 2018, during oral question period, I asked the Minister of Lands about the difference in lease rates between Commissioner's and NWT's lands. We were informed that the NWT's lands rates were going up to a minimum of $840...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that the Assembly recommend that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this report within 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I will request a recorded vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Government of the Northwest Territories has several strong and successful programs to support entrepreneurship and economic development opportunities, including the Support to Entrepreneurs and Economic Development, SEED, Policy.

The government has done some really good stuff and good work on there. This motion here is to encourage the government to repeat that Northerners are eager to pursue the economic benefits of legalization and to target programming addressing cannabis-specific planning and programs that would help local businesses. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wish to have a recorded vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommend that the Government of the Northwest Territories form an interagency working group to address cannabisrelated enforcement planning. Thank you, Mr. Chair.