Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it was great to hear Mr. Moses here today talk about the new Safe and Caring Schools Regulations, including a Territorial School Code of Conduct. They'll become enforced September 1st. I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment how these regulations and school code of conduct were developed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I get into my Member’s statement, I would like to thank Minister Moses for giving us the opportunity to attend the presentation in the Great Hall this morning. It was a great experience and I would like to thank the organizers, students, and teachers for coming here to speak about bullying as part of the National Pink Shirt Day. It was fitting to say the least, as today I stand in front of you to speak about bullying. Have you ever been called names? Have you ever had someone make you feel bad about your looks, where you live, or how you live? I totally believe...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Regular physical activity relieves stress, builds muscle, strength, reduces disease and injury, improves vascular health, and helps maintain healthy body weight. Current studies show that only 15 per cent of Canadian adults and almost seven per cent of Canadians meet New Physical Activity Guidelines, which are minimum requirements to maintain or improve health. A 2007-2009 CANPLAY report Canadian physical activity levels among youth stresses only 13 per cent of Canadians and youth in Canada are accumulating 60 minutes of physical activity per day. ParticipACTION...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm not going to elaborate. My colleagues have been pretty articulate on what we're trying to get across here. In my riding, representing Nahendeh, there are a number of issues with daycare, or childcare, I guess we'd say. In Fort Liard, we had to close our childcare because we couldn't afford it. The community couldn't afford it. We have other people in the communities having to not work because they can't get affordable and reliable childcare, which means income support has to be paid. It's unfortunate that this is happening. I think we need to be looking at it, come up...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is just to be consistent throughout the document. We talk about solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal in other areas, so it is to be consistent with it as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I’d like to thank the Minister for the answer. During my Member’s statement I talked about training for youth, and you know it's great to train the staff and you know the people that run the school and that, but have you looked at potential training for youth so they can you know stop the bullying and make sure the schools are a safe environment.

I thank the Minister for his answer. Can you please elaborate a bit on how the youth were involved and engaged in this process?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The other one is the HIGH FIVE program, with the five principles of healthy child development, being offered by the NWT Recreation and Parks Association. It provides in-depth training in the five principles of healthy child development so front-line leaders understand what they need to do to ensure each child's social, emotional, and cognitive needs are met. There is a great section that deals with bullying. In closing I would like to leave us with this cool acronym I heard today to deal with bullying, WITS: Walk away, Ignore it, Talk about it, Seek help. Later on, I'll...

I’m good. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 be amended on page 27 by deleting the words “We will promote a national physical activity strategy for all residents to improve health and fitness” and insert the words “We will develop and implement a Northwest Territories physical activity strategy for all residents to improve health and fitness.”