Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson, and I thank the Minister for his answer. I'm not worrying about the technical package. I understand the technical package. It's the messaging we're trying to get across, and I thank the Minister being willing to work with us and brief us as we move forward.

Do not get me wrong; I've seen the research, I've talked to the staff, I've talked to the teachers about the importance of this decision, whether it's collective bargaining. It could potentially, most likely will be, a very positive thing for our students, so I'm not worried about the negotiation part. I just want...

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that answer. I understand that, communication, sometimes strategies have to be different for different things. However, if we're going to sell something or be able to promote and inform the people, we as ordinary MLAs should be part of the package. So if you're willing to work with us and get the messaging out, it makes things a little bit easier.

So that's why I'm asking for this, is so we can work together, the 19 of us, so when we're getting out the message, we can get the message to the prime stakeholders, who are the parents. So it doesn't...

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. My question is: is the tourism association working with the government, working hand in hand to promote tourism across this great territory of ours? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the deputy minister for his answer. These 10 super flights, wherever they are going, can the Minister or the deputy minister please advise this House where these super flights are going and what airline are they using outside of Yellowknife? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regard to a tourism development officer and understanding the 51 plus the six that are coming in, has the department looked at expanding tourism outside Yellowknife? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. Will the Minister make a commitment to actually get some community members on there? Because I know in some of our regions and some of our ridings we have people who are really interested in this geothermal. So will the Minister make a commitment to get community members on there? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for her answer. I am very familiar with those programs and that, so she did a great job. Still, I think we need to get that money out to the communities. It shouldn't be applicationbased. It should be given out every year. It should be done so the communities can recognize their volunteers.

Now, in regard to the importance of volunteers that the Minister has talked about, does the department have any courses or resources that they can offer to volunteer groups to become more efficient and effective volunteers out there? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I must apologize to the Minister. I am going to probably ask a question that is a little bit outside the box here. So we have 23 nominations, which is good, but it is really sad for this territory, where we have a lot of volunteers out there. Can the Minister advise what the department is going to do to increase the nominations besides up to 23 so we can have more people recognized?

Mr. Speaker, on February 10, 2017, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs announced an annual notice of nomination deadline for the NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards, with a focus about recognizing and celebrating remarkable contributions of volunteers from across the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, last year Ms. Leona Berreault from Fort Liard was the 2016 Outstanding Volunteer in the youth category. I have had the pleasure of knowing and witnessing Leona volunteer and do the work in her community. For those who do not know Leona, she is a student at the Echo Dene School in Fort Liard, where she...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to get that information from the Minister, so I thank him for his commitment to getting that information to me. I guess my next question is: we are bringing 150 people into the territories; has the government worked with the tourism organization to expand it outside the region, to promote the Nahanni, the Delta and that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.