Shane Thompson

I thank the Minister for clearing that up. In regard to the commitment made by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs in 1992, was this commitment made in an email or letter to all the residents and lease holders at Cassidy Point?

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to acknowledge an impressive young person of the Nahendeh region, Jonah Sanguez, a resident of Jean Marie River, who is in her second season of trapping. She was taught by her mother and continues striving to learn more about her family's background and living off the land.

Jonah is one of the five young trappers in the NWT awarded a Trapper Recognition Award from the territorial government. The NWT Trapper Recognition Award recognizes the hard work NWT trappers put into their craft and the contribution they make in the Genuine Mackenzie Valley fur Program.

Jonah...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I stand here to speak on the principle of this appropriation bill. I guess my biggest challenge was the big cut of another $250,000 in the multi-sport games. This is now $500,000 cut from multi-sport games and this is having a huge impact on our youth and our residents, especially our future.

When speaking with the Finance Minister, this was my struggle. This was my challenge. This is something I stand up on my principles. However, as we work forward and you got to look at the big picture and look at the number of the issues here. The big issue in my riding...

I find it hard to believe that the First Nations would not object to this, but I guess I'll go on to my next question. Has the government of the GNWT compensated the Yellowknives Dene First Nations for taking these pieces of land and for that happening?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to follow up with questions to the Minister of Lands. Can the Minister explain to this House how the Yellowknives Dene First Nations were consulted in regards to the land at Cassidy Point? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am not looking for the person or persons who made that commitment. I am asking if the Minister is aware that there was a commitment made to the leaseholder, whether it was made in an email or a letter to the leaseholder.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow up some questions dating back to May 31 and October 20 of 2016 with the Minister for Lands. There seems to be some confusion around the issue, and I would like to try to clear it up once and for all. With the changes with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and the creation of Lands, can the Minister please advise us: does the department has all the files as it pertains to equity leases at Cassidy Point? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for that answer. With the challenges that we are facing in trying to get people to be non-medical escorts here, will the Minister look at developing a policy or, even better, come up with a way to compensate future non-medical travel escorts so that they can continue to provide this valuable service to patients obligated to travel to meet their medical needs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for his answer. Since the department doesn't have a policy in place, do they have something in place to provide some sort of incidental funding for the person so that they can get shampoo and stuff like that that they forget back at home?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Debra Richards. She is my new constituent assistant. She is a former fire chief for the Hamlet of Enterprise. She is a former youth ambassador. Welcome to her. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.