Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I'd hope they actually would start looking into that and start planning for the future because the water levels keep on dropping and regularly. Yes, we're seeing Watson Lake go up and warming up, but we're still seeing the challenge. With the water levels dropping, and it's occurring on a regular basis, has the department looked at ways to help reduce the cost of living during the ferry shutdown and ice road being built?

I thank the Minister for that information. Yes, they're operating the ferries at a level that's even unprecedented, so I'd like to thank again the staff there. Because of the water level dropping in the channel, it needs to be dredged. When you sit there and you look at it and you talk to the ferry and you talk to residents, it needs to be dredged. Is the Minister able to advise if the department has looked into the process of dredging this section of the river?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on September 25th, Recreation North provided a news release that spoke about what they had done and are planning to do. The Recreation North 2015 Arctic Inspiration Prize Laureate is a tri-territorial partnership of the Recreation and Parks Association of Yukon, the NWT Recreation and Parks Association, and Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut. It was established to provide training to strengthen the capacity of recreation leaders in northern, rural, and remote communities. I believe the training is a great supplement to what the Department of...

I thank the Minister for that answer. So, I guess the question is from our riding, and a lot of people use this ferry, so will the department start looking at this option or other options to see it again? Because we're talking 20 years ago, and, with modern technology now and equipment, will the Minister advise this House if the department's looking at that?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with weather changing, the drop of water levels, we are seeing the Merv Hardie Ferry on 24hour notice. It is at least 23 days earlier than the 15-year average. I want to recognize and thank the marine staff. They've done a great job of keeping the ferry operational as long as we can and for doing it in a safe manner. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure. Can the Minister please advise the House how the department is getting the message out to the residents and non-residents that the ferry is going to be shut down earlier than...

Thank you. I appreciate the Minister making that commitment. I am hoping that we can find out what the product is. I guess, as we have been working on this bill and learning more and more, cannabis is a different creature than alcohol.

When we purchase our products, do we have storage that is being properly looked after, and developing that? Again, with this product, it gets mouldy. It gets outdated, from my understanding. My understanding is two to three weeks is the shelf life of this product.

When we talk about this, have we looked at these questions and come up with an answer? Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm honoured to second this. I've seen the government with the Deh Cho bridge, and they audited that, and they came out with a good report, but also the Minister here in this House here said that, most likely, this will be audited, and I think we need to audit it.

I honestly think that we've heard the value of the importance of this project, and I think it was a good project that had a big benefit for the Inuvik and BeauDel region, but again, the importance of it is to audit this project. I will also say that we need to do the Stanton Hospital that's going...

I thank the Minister for that answer. I guess I am still struggling with why we didn't do a phase-in over a period. Leases change, and that, but they could have done that. I think the government could have been working with the residents instead of seeing a 336 per cent to up to a 560 per cent increase in their fees. That concerns me.

With the Government of the NWT reducing Commissioner's lands to 5 per cent, I have to give credit to the government. That was a positive step. I would have loved to see 3 per cent, but 5 per cent, as the Minister says, is better than the 10 per cent. I will have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier in this week I was asking questions to the Minister of Lands about leases. As I said, when I looked into this further, I noticed a large number of residents who live in designated authorities were hit big time with increases due to their leases, whether it's their homes or their traditional cabins. In speaking with the residents, they came up with a question: how is this government working with First Nation peoples if we continue to do this? Can the Minister please explain how his department is working with the First Nations community? Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is fitting I am doing this Member's statement today. Graduation ceremonies are a life event. They are one of those rare and special times when we take a pause and recognize that an achievement has been made, an accomplishment has been recognized, and determination has been rewarded.

We do it with our peers, both with those who have shared in their experience and reached this milestone with us and those who have watched, supported, and encouraged us in pursuing our goals. Like marriage, or even birth, it represents the end of one chapter in our lives and commencing on...