Shane Thompson

I thank the Minister for his answer. I guess the big challenge is that this whole project from the Deh Cho from Wrigley up for 100 kilometres would have a huge impact not just on my riding but in the Member from the other side's riding and the Member from Hay River North's riding, as well. My colleague from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh and my Member from Deh Cho at least have the potential for these great things. So I understand that the Canyon Creek access road is the first step for the Sahtu segment, and it's important to get the gravel there. Is the department doing any work of similar access roads in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I get to recognize a few people here today. Kristen Tanche, who is a student in the social work program here in Yellowknife. I actually had the opportunity to almost marry her and her husband, but they got smart and got an official somebody else to do that. So I'd like to recognize Kristin.

Then I have to recognize my two daughters: Jacqueline Thompson, who is a teacher, and my daughter Jenny, who is part of the social work program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member from Kam Lake said in his Member's statement, I would like to thank the social workers and the education students and the union workers for coming and presenting their concerns to us, as a government, about the budget.

Mr. Speaker, during my time leading up to our session here I had the opportunity to not only visit the communities but go into the schools and meet the students in each of the schools. They addressed a number of concerns to me, and I would like to address some of the stuff that students at Thomas Simpson Secondary School said to me. It was...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, when we are looking at this budget, I am looking at the stuff we are missing right now and why the rationale. We need this in there. I guess our first initiative we talked about was youth-in-crisis. Unfortunately, we have seen a lot of crisis and a lot of deaths in our ridings lately. I think we need to be spending more time on the prevention, intervention, that is needed. I am not just talking about youth, but I am talking about the whole generation. People are passing life through crisis and that. I am looking at the department to put in initiatives and put...

I thank the Minister for his answer. Mr. Speaker, some of the things and some of the challenges we are hearing about this change is the diploma. Will this have an impact over the NWT diploma once it is done? Since we are going to be implementing it, will it have an impact on our students and our youth?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we heard in the news a lot about this issue about the strengthening teachers instructional practice pilot. We have heard it in the editorial again. It is talking about the negative impact on it. We have heard from the teachers' union of the positive of that. I am trying to get this cleared up. Can the Minister inform this House: is this part of the Education Renewal Framework? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for his answer. That kind of led into my other question I was going to ask anyway, but I'll, you know, modify it a little bit here. So when can I expect the Minister to come work with us and maybe bring the Minister of Lands to come along and meet with these communities and do a community regional tour? So when can we look at this? Is it going to be sooner or later?

I thank the Minister for that answer. It will be very helpful. In my last constituency tour, some of the people were talking about utilizing their skiffs, their outboards. Not jet boats, because a lot of tourists come to my riding, they don’t want to go on a jet boat, but they would like to go on a skiff. The biggest challenge for my communities is about the insurance. So can the Minister please provide us what he's able to do for small businesses in regard to this insurance issue?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these are questions for the Minister of ITI about tourism. It's very important in my riding; it's a beautiful country and that. Can the Minister please advise this House what his department is doing for the smaller communities in helping promote tourism? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for her answer. It still didn’t really give me a plan. We're going to get rid as many as we can, and it's unfortunate because I know in Fort Liard we've been trying to get that information from the Minister. Later on she talks about the importance of the local housing authorities in the communities of Fort Liard, Gameti, and Whati and people can go speak to the maintenance officers who might be there. So can the Minister please advise this House when these positions will be filled? Because in Fort Liard I know the housing manager is there, and I appreciate the government...