Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and that's a little bit reassuring now, because I was sitting there going it means that MTS is going to be here for 10 years. Have we looked at MTS with all this equipment, have we looked at other options or are we just still going to be proceeding with this as they're going to be around for a while? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I think I've got a clearer understand of it. What you're saying is for 10 years the supplementals are paying for these barges and that, you know, the money is coming back. We're paying them upfront and then money is coming from the revolving fund and it's going to come back into the supplemental pot of money, correct? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd just like to clarify. With these double hull barges they're sitting in this fund and they're supposed to be moved to a revolving fund over 10 years, is this correct? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the Minister. An article from CBC Saskatoon about a study by Public Safety Canada tested two testing devices at seven detachments, including Yellowknife. Has the Minister or the department received this report, and has he been able to tell us what the results were with those two devices?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I was talking to the Minister of Justice about the legalization of cannabis here. Can the Minister advise this House: has the federal government set the legal consumption limit for driving while under the influence of cannabis? If they haven't, when will this be coming forth? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today in my Member's statement I talked about mental illness and suicides in my region. My questions are to follow up to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Has there been any outreach to education institutions specializing in Health and Social Services programs for recommendations or potential training for healthcare professionals and residents of the GNWT aside from what we do presently? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In light of increased incidents of suicide in my riding, I would like to take the opportunity to address the importance of mental health awareness.

Mr. Speaker, in my riding and throughout the NWT, we have some amazing counsellors in our health systems and have beneficial services for those affected by mental health or mental illness, but what is evidently lacking is awareness in the communities. In my riding, between the months of January and September, there have been six suicides and at least 34 attempted suicides that I am aware of. Six suicides in 10 months is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that answer. I guess my concern, though, is: we are still not dealing with it. We have small communities that have this issue. I have been listening to people. They basically would like to see some dental therapists in the smaller communities, like Fort Providence, Fort Liard, some of these smaller communities, to give these residents from zero to 20 years old the opportunity to get this treatment. Will the Minister look at the smaller communities, at training the staff and getting people in these places? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It looks like the Minister had all my questions here and was able to answer them all. The answer to the question on how many communities are out there: basically, we have five communities that don't have dental therapists in place. Is the government seriously looking at trying to fill these vacant positions, and if they are, how are they looking at doing this?

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker, and I again thank the Minister for his answer. Mr. Speaker, what measures are being taken to ensure that programs delivered by Health and Social Services in all communities are done correctly and adhere to all policies and procedures?