Shane Thompson

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, 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...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, I am just asking this here. Can we get a complete update when the Minister is able to provide that to the committee? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I probably have one, maybe two, questions in regard to this here. When the Minister is providing this information to committee, can you tell us what strains? I have just found out there are over 3,000 different strains of the product. Will the Minister be able to provide us a list of this information? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, but unfortunately, I didn't get an answer. I heard a reduction of 5 per cent, you know, but it didn't say if that was in there, this reduction. I guess, the Minister of Finance, maybe I should be asking him the questions on that, but I'll worry about that later on. So my last question: with the huge increases to NWT lease fees, can the Minister please advise the House what the residents will see when it comes to the service being offered by the GNWT? Are they enhancing the services? Are they doing anything, including for these people out there who have cabins out in the bush? Thank...

I thank the Minister for his answer. I guess consultation is different in my books. I think we should be engaging. We should actually be going to the communities and talking to them, and not just downloading a whole bunch of letters to them and expecting them to understand what we are talking about, but I will take the Minister up on it and get to see the letter, and we will go from there.

When the government was looking at this increase, I was wondering why they didn't have an implementation over a period of time on that instead of just the one-time shot. Can the Minister explain why this idea...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for 31 years, Brian Jaffray has been teaching and working with the students of the Nahendeh/Dehcho region. It is with sadness and joy that I announce Brian's retirement after this school year. Brian has worked at the Echo-Dene School and the Dehcho Divisional Education Council office. He was awarded the Governor General's Medal for Teaching Excellence in History, and today he was inducted into the Education Hall of Fame. Brian, I would like to thank you for the positive impact you have had over the years, and I wish you the best in your retirement. Thank...