Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you heard my Member's statement about non-medical escorts and the important role they cover for our residents. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services: does the Department of Health and Social Services have a policy in place that would compensate non-medical travel escorts for their time away from their place of employment? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in times of hardship, the communities of the Nahendeh riding always come together. A valuable Member of the riding is Darcy Lafferty of Fort Simpson.

For the last couple of years, Darcy has been a reliable non-medical escort for many patients in the Nahendeh riding. He realized the value of being a non-medical escort after he escorted his father when he was ill. Darcy began accompanying friends and family so that he could be there for them in their time of need, like he was there for his father. Soon enough, Darcy became known as a very reliable escort by...

I thank the Minister for that answer. Can the Minister clarify: does the Department of Lands get two separate assessments, one for lands itself or one with lands and improvements on it?

Thank you very much to the Minister for that answer. I guess my next question is: in regard to Commissioner's land and territorial lands within municipal boundaries, are they taxed with the assessment value? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for that answer. I have been hearing other information. It has been good. I will use the Minister's information and my colleagues' information to help understand the history of it. My next question is: I know in Fort Simpson I have heard assessments going up double from the previous years and nothing has been done to the lot. I have asked a number of people why this has come about and why values have increased. I have received different answers. Can the Minister please explain the process of how the department comes up with the value of the lot?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that the Assembly recommend that the Department of Health and Social Services enhance community-based aftercare services by encouraging the development of a peer support network, scheduling regular access to counselling and addictions facilities through existing health centre resources, i.e. Telehealth, and engaging with southern facilities to train territorial healthcare providers in the delivery of family support programs. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I again request a recorded vote.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize a member of the community of Fort Simpson, Steven Squirrel. Mr. Squirrel has operated the water treatment plant in Fort Simpson for over 40 years. That's right, 40 years. He's committed to doing this job.

As of July 7, 2017, Steven has hit his 40-year mark and continues to work in the water treatment plant. He's currently training somebody to take over after he's ready to retire.

Steven's role as the water treatment plant operator is a 24/7 commitment. Beyond regular operating hours, Steve responds to call-outs at all hours of...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Aftercare was one of the big things that we were looking at. It was one of the challenges that we saw there. Basically, though, what we found is that aftercare has to be individualized. It has to be respective to that individual. Each facility, like Ms. Green talked about, had the opportunity to have aftercare available from each facility, that there were some 30 days, 60 days, 90 days of aftercare. There was the opportunity for people to come back to the facility for further treatment there. There was the opportunity to make phone calls. There is that option available.

Th...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we have read in the report in Committee of the Whole. A number of Members have made Members' statements about the tour. I think it is pretty straightforward. We have four motions we wish to read in. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Minister for that information about tax-based communities. I am not talking about tax-based communities. I totally understand that process. The process is: as a taxpayer, you get an assessment; it has land and facilities on there; you have the right to then go to municipal government to appeal that decision. I am talking about designated authorities and the hamlets that do not have this process as the tax-based. So they have these assessments done. Then Land uses this assessment to come up with a lease payment, so can the Minister provide us this information and how it is done so...