Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to go back to leaving from Fort Simpson. If I get on an airline leaving from Fort Simpson, land in Yellowknife, and then get on to another airline going to Edmonton, are there these costs to it? I understand the $7 to $9, but I am trying to understand the $10 and the $20. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand the mill rate belongs to municipalities, and I am talking about a similar approach. Since the Minister isn't going to look at that, will the Minister have his department look at only charging for 10 years and have the total cost spread over a 30-year time period instead of the lessees paying for, over and over again, as every 10 years, they are paying for their land? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minster for his answer. Why isn't the department using the mill rate, like tax-based communities use, instead of using the flat rate of 10 per cent for land leases?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, the Minister of Lands spoke in his Minister's statement on what the departments have been working on to serve residents, in the way that best reflects the Northwest Territories' interests and priorities. It talks about Lands and bringing the two Lands acts together. One of the things they talked about was reviewing --

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks, colleagues. She believes that, once the right people are in the right positions, Jean Marie River as a small community can be a leading force in all areas of existence, including climate change, energy efficiency, and health.

Mr. Speaker, as part of the regional leadership, Gladys serves on the Dehcho Executive Committee, Dehcho Education Scholarship Committee, and is the president of the Dehcho Helicopters Limited.

Mr. Speaker, this is just one woman from the region. I encourage women to continue to be the fabric of our society and take on leadership roles...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I spoke about wellness programs and potential wellness days, so I have questions for the Minister of Finance. Can the Minister provide an updated status on the negotiation with the Union of Northern Workers? I know he's made a commitment to meet committee to provide something, but can he give us a general synopsis of this update, please? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe this government recognizes the value and importance of the continued health and wellbeing of their employees. However, these past two years have been difficult ones for the public service. Positions are being eliminated as a result of departmental amalgamations, people are being laid off, and unionized employees have been working without a signed contract for almost a year. As a result, our employees are not feeling good about their relationship with their employer. This needs to be fixed.

Mr. Speaker, wellness is an active process of becoming...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his answer. I totally agree that this government has some really good packages, but we are talking about employees’ wellness, and to do that, we are looking at the hours of work. We heard the teachers work 52 hours a week doing their job, but also, I notice that regular workers have 37.5 to 40 hours a week, but they put more hours in. They put more hours into this, so with the cuts and eliminations to positions, and the potential for no raises resulting in the collective bargaining, it is important to show employees that they are valued. Can...

I thank the Minister for his answer. Can the Minister tell us: what does the Government of the Northwest Territories do to help the employees' wellness in the workplace?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my colleagues. I have shared these ideas with a number of GNWT employees, including the president of the Union of Northern Workers. I have heard positive support for this approach. I hope the government will give some serious consideration to this proposal. Mr. Speaker, later today I will have questions for the Minister of Finance. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.