Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. A motion to Amend the Cities, Towns and Villages Act, that clause 2 of Bill 18 be amended by deleting proposal subclause 70.1(5) and substitute the following: (5) tourism accommodations tax must not be imposed under this section if the subject of the tax is a resident of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. The feeling is that policy and procedures outweighed the care of residents. What would happen if a very serious or fatal situation occurred? Would they have to wait at least seven hours to get the necessary transportation out to get help? This would not happen in bigger centres. They feel it is an uneven playing field, and I cannot blame them. I will later have questions for the Minister of Health. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Ms. Green talked about consulting and you went out and talked to the groups and came up with this recommendation, but it was the GNWT that made that recommendation; it wasn't the group of people you were talking to. So why did the GNWT make that recommendation? They didn't hear it from any of the people out there. They heard it from the Government of the Northwest Territories. So can you please explain why the Government of the Northwest Territories was able be part of this without telling people they were going to be consulted? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate that information from the Minister. I guess my biggest challenge is that we're exempting the GNWT. We don't exempt them on the airport improvement fee. We don't do that, but now the taxpayers, the people of the Northwest Territories, now they have to pay this, and we're sitting here talking about making cost of living not have an impact on people, have the cost of living be better, and now we're sitting here doing that. So to me, what's the difference between the residents of the Northwest Territories and government of NWT? What is the difference? Why can...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess my first question is: when we talk about a charter challenge, has the department obtained a legal opinion in writing that this going to happen? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I appreciate the answer from the Premier. Can the Premier advise this House if there has been any feedback from the Indigenous governments that is affecting the government's now proposed identifying of rights-based cabins?

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank Ms. Robertson for that answer in clarifying. Sometimes we need to get the information out there because sometimes the contractors are asking those questions, why the equipment is not being utilized.

The ferry in Fort Simpson, the Lafferty ferry engines, it says 2019-2020. Is this going to be engines that are going to be in place for the year 2019 season, or is it going to be for the 2020 season? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate that information from the Minister. That looks good. I am looking forward to seeing that kiosk there. It has been a huge issue to the community, so I greatly appreciate that.

With regard to the Blackstone Park Campsite betterment, can the Minister expand a little bit further on it? Is it work about the roads, or is it the campgrounds that are going to be enhanced, or is it going to be a combination of all? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Nick and Karen Sibbeston married in Lloydminster, Alberta, on August 17, 1968, after meeting each other while studying Education at the University of Alberta. This year, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Nick noted that he grew up in the North, and Karen on a farm in the South, and that intercultural marriages are a phenomenon that is occurring more and more nowadays. Nick said that this is truly a great cultural experience; to give and take, and to learn from each other and your differences. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, and I appreciate that clarification from the Minister. I know previously when we have gone into the community, there was a commitment from the department to go in and consult with the community on beginning the stages of alignment and that. Has that been done? Thank you, Mr. Chair.