Shane Thompson

Just from hearing that answer and hearing the Minister of Lands in previous sittings here, do improvements on the land help or increase the value of the land that is presently there?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of confusion on how lots are assessed in the NWT. People assume it is Lands. We have now been told that this is the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs' responsibility. Can the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs please explain why the department has been assigned this task? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommend that the Department of Health and Social Services enhance its public communications on addictions treatment. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to have it as a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regard to the question, what we did was we had an opportunity to visit the four facilities that have contracts with the Government of the Northwest Territories. We believe that, yes, a treatment centre in the Northwest Territories at some time in the future would be a good opportunity.

The biggest challenges that we found were, one, the ability to provide the selection that the government has with the four treatment centres out there. It gives us some variety. It gives us some options that seem to be well versed for our residents. The other thing is that we lack...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister for doing that. At the end of the day, I guess the students out there who are looking at the social work program and the teacher's program, what can we tell them that is going to happen? Is the NWT seriously looking at providing this program or are we going to maybe potentially do a modification of it? Because if you look at our Skills 4 Success, some of the hugest needs are social workers or teachers and that, and our early childhood. Can the Minister elaborate on that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate that answer from the Minister. I guess my concern is that, you know, yesterday after the exchange here on the floor, I got a couple of phone calls from students asking me, "Well, it's not what they're being told." I guess the question to the Minister is: what is the messaging that the college is getting, because it seems that the students and maybe some of the staff are not getting the same message.

Yes, this is Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the answer from the Minister. How can residents of the NWT address issues if they are not being successful in getting the municipal government to deal with the issues that they bring forth to them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker

Thank you. I guess the question that comes back, though, is: does the policy follow the Societies Act that we presently have? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I appreciate the Minister in that answer. I really applaud the department for taking that approach. I think it is a very positive way to help them grow as a community. Can the Minister provide: when the department offers council training, do bylaws and following them get discussed during the process? When they get in there and do the training and that, are bylaws discussed and how they have to be followed?