Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the second part of my Member's statement briefly talked about accessing traditional Dene treatment or Dene medicine, and there seems to be some confusion on how they can access that when I was talking with the elders in Fort Liard. My question for the Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Speaker: presently it is my understanding that medical travel only covers travel to the NWT borders, when they are accessing traditional Dene treatments. Can the Minister of Health and Social Services please confirm what the process is and how it is done? Thank you...

I thank the Minister for the answer. In my conversations with some of the residents, they were concerned about exchanging of medical information between British Columbia and the hospital there in Fort Liard. I guess my question to the Minister in regards to that is: has this been one of the challenges that we see, and how are you able to resolve this issue?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow up on my Member's statement today to the Minister of Health and Social Services. As I stated previously, the issue of trying to get patients referred from Fort Liard to Fort Nelson to deal with their medical conditions has been a concern that has been going on for 25 years. I was really shocked when I heard that, and I've talked to the Minister about it. I realize he's only been in this portfolio for four years, I believe it is, so I feel sorry for him, but: can the Minister of Health and Social Services please provide the status of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my colleagues for allowing us to come back to it. I would like to welcome a longtime friend Steven Cooper to the Assembly. Steven is the lead counsel for the Labrador residential school claim and currently the counsel for the 60's Scoop class, and most recently, the Indian Hospital Case Act. As well, I'd like to recognize Andrew Geisterfer, and I apologize if I got your name wrong that way, but who is in the process of becoming a member of the Law Society of the NWT and Nunavut, and this is his first trip to Yellowknife. Welcome.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I will work with the Minister and sit down and talk to him about it to try to get some more information for the constituents. Maybe I will be able to share with other Members who are interested, so I thank the Minister for that commitment.

Has the department, Mr. Speaker, looked at bringing Dene healers up from down south to help residents, especially elders, when it is regarding their concern for their health? I will just leave it with that question, there.

That is really great information to understand and hear. Will the Minister be willing to get that information or show us where we can get this information so that we can share with the residents of the Northwest Territories?

I thank the Minister for that answer as we navigate on some difficult grounds here. Can the Minister please tell us how much money the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs put into exploration of funding excluding salaries?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've heard a lot of concerns and questions about the Western Canada Lotteries Act, and we're soon to be hearing about some multi-sport funding issues within the budget here. So my first question is to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs: can the Minister please advise if the Western Canada Lotteries Act has a clause in the bill that allows the lotteries to be used for multi-sport games? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to the orders of the day, point number five, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister talked about $8.3 million into the recreation fund, $4.7 from Western Lotteries and $3.6 from the other areas. Can the Minister advise: does the department consider programs such as Youth Corps, Youth Contribution, and Youth Centre as programs for recreation funding?