Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess I should have been a little more specific. I mean, I represent six communities, so I am trying to see. I know Fort Simpson is there, but what about Fort Liard, Sambaa K'e, Jean Marie, Nahanni Butte, and Wrigley? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is just a little bit of a comment. I appreciate the Minister following through on that.

I actually have to give credit to the Minister and his department and their survey. I had a number of local Aboriginal people, or local hunters, I guess you would call them, who have been employed by the department, and they have said nothing but positive things. They appreciate the department actually utilizing traditional knowledge in the areas. I have to give credit where credit is due, and I would like to thank the Minister and his department for that. That will be it. Thank...

I don't think Sport North got the money. I think the government gave Sport North the money to do these games, so that's why I'm asking the Minister to look at using this money that the government has given Sport North to reimburse these athletes who now have not had the opportunity to participate and try out for the NWT Games. Will the Minister get them to look at it and reimburse them again?

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate that answer. It does help when we are presenting things there. I guess the next question in regard to this is the hunting on the corridor. I found it very interesting, as I had the opportunity to travel with the Minister and his staff, some of the things that we actually don't do or allow people to do, like hunting with lights and stuff like that.

Has the Minister and the department looked at potentially addressing this issue in the upcoming year? It seems to be not really hunting, I guess, you would call it. There have been some concerns, and I think...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd just like to follow up with the Minister. In her last answer, she said that these athletes actually did the transportation to go to Yellowknife, and if they had stayed in Fort Simpson, they would have been able to catch the charter. Can the Minister please elaborate and explain to us what she meant by that answer? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that. I know we are going through a study right now about moose and that. Has the department looked at potential further studies this fiscal year coming up on the moose, or is it just being implemented this year and that's it? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Minister for that answer. Unfortunately, I knew this was what I was going to hear. It is very disappointing to hear this, as it seems that we would want to have a process in place, especially since I've seen things happen in the past because of weather. To ensure our athletes are given the opportunity to try out, will the Minister direct her department to work with the organizations who have been given the response to make up the Team NWT and the Territorial Sport Organization to come up with a contingency plan for the future games using technology and other personnel?

Thank you, and I will actually thank the Minister for that, and I will take him up on it. I am not talking about staff. I am talking about people out in the industry and stuff like that, and that is what the people have come to me and said, that it makes more sense. Like I said, I thank the Minister for that, and I will follow up later on with this. That will be my last question. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I had some questions for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. As you have heard, four athletes from Nahendeh didn't get the opportunity to compete for a spot on Team NWT. This is very disappointing, to say the least. Unfortunately, nothing can be done now for these games. However, I hope we can fix it for future games.

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that each Territorial Sport Organization was required to have an appeal process in place for athlete selection that was approved by the GNWT. Can the Minister confirm if...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regard to these positions, has the department looked at the potential of moving that position into the Lands area and have them tag team? It is my understanding that a lot of the inspectors of Lands actually cross over and do water for the department as well. They do, actually, the mines and that. Has the department looked at putting that position into Lands so that they can actually work together? Thank you.