Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a written question for the Minister of Justice. Can the Minister of Justice please advise this House on the following?

The number of land transfers per year by community in the Northwest Territories over the past 10 years for which data is available; and

The dollar value of transferred lands per year by community in the Northwest Territories over the past 10 years for which data is available.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Are we going to be dealing with these costs by way of supplementary appropriation when the legislation is passed? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

That is great news. Is the Minister in a position to commit to returning back to the House with an update on this work on looking into establishing a youth council? Can we get a commitment that he will bring this back to the House after he has done his work to look at this project?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that the chair of Committee of the Whole leave the chair and rise to report progress. Thank you.

So one of the details, if the Minister can confirm this, but one of the details the department is willing to commit to today is that liquor stores are going to be the primary agency for distributing cannabis products in the Northwest Territories. Is that correct?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I talked about the importance of engaging young people in future decisions and current decisions, as well. So I'd like to ask the Minister responsible for Youth how this government goes about engaging youth in the Northwest Territories when they are making decisions around government spending, legislation, and other major policy decisions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am on page Roman numeral XV. So the first item on this page is shortterm debt less than 365 days, so the difference between the two columns is $2 million. So is it anticipated that we'll have cleared off $2 million from shortterm, from our balance of shortterm debt, by the end of the fiscal year? Am I reading that right? Thank you.

Thank you, and I agree with that kind of assessment of where the costs are coming from. It's less the administration, if we do follow this model. So the cannabis revenues that come in, some jurisdictions have committed to use all of the revenues to support public health initiatives, and certainly addictions treatment is a major concern in the Northwest Territories. So the Minister or his official spoke to how we are going to see the cannabis revenues in the main estimates, and by extension the public accounts, but what is the plan for using those revenues? Is it going to be a dedicated purpose...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to remind the honourable Members of this House that, although we occupy these seats for now, we are holding them in trust for future generations.

Young people in the Northwest Territories and Canada live in very different circumstances than I did or my parents did or my grandparents, and those changing circumstances give a different perspective. It is a perspective that decision makers are often disconnected with, which is why we must work very diligently to connect with young Canadians and young Northerners and to understand their perspectives on the issues...

I am disappointed, but I will look forward to further discussing this both on the floor of this Chamber and in committee. Nothing further. Thank you, Mr. Chair.