Shane Thompson

I thank the Minister for that answer and the commitment to make sure that all Territorial Sport Organizations have a process and are following that process.

Mr. Speaker, living in the North, does the Government of the Northwest Territories and especially the department realize that weather can sometimes interfere with the schedule? Therefore, does the department have a contingency plan in place to ensure that athletes are given a fair opportunity to compete for a spot on the team? I.e. using modern technology, other personnel, et cetera, et cetera.

Thank you to the deputy minister for that answer. From my understanding in talking to people, it is a little bit different. I am hearing a different story. There are some concerns in this area. I understand the cross-training, but I think putting these two positions in the same building and same department would be more efficient.

I guess, if we are not going to allocate moving positions around, is the department willing to work with the Department of Lands and maybe house the water officers with the Lands officers in the same building so that they can work together and work on files that way...

Thank you, honourable Member from the Deh Cho, and thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recommendation 1

The Standing Committee on Social Development recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services enhance its public communications on addictions treatment.

The committee suggests that this might be accomplished through communications initiatives. They would include plain-language documents describing an individual's path through each contracted facility; profiles or testimonials of participating Northerners, with any necessary concessions to privacy and confidentiality; and the plain-language...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that commitment. I guess I should just give the Minister a head's up. I am actually going to do a Member's statement on it next week. I will give you some time on that one, but I will ask some questions on that.

In regard to the water inspectors, is this the area where I should be asking a question about that position? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With our Arctic Winter Games less than a month away, athletes and coaches are excited about getting there to represent Team NWT. Unfortunately, today we will not be talking about this.

Mr. Speaker, during the territorial trials four athletes from the Nahendeh region did not get the chance to compete for a spot, due to no fault of their own. On January 19, 2018, I ran into one of these athletes here in Yellowknife and was informed that he would not be in the Arctic Winter Games. When I asked him about the reason, he said he could not get there due to weather.

I have...

Thank you, and I appreciate the Minister and the department for being able to provide that. Does the department have a training plan that they look at training non-certified firefighters for each region? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know Sambaa K'e has a crew. They have a crew there. They actually are contracted out there. There is a crew there, but what I am looking for is some of the other communities. Would the department look at potentially putting some crews there so that, depending on the fitness level and all of that, the requirements, would they be willing to look at expanding, putting crews in these smaller communities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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?