Shane Thompson

I thank the Minister for her answer. Still not a deadline. Are we looking at the new fiscal year? Are we looking at this fiscal year? I know when we're looking at things, even if it takes a month to get through classification, we're going to still be looking at the new fiscal year. What time will we be looking at in the new fiscal year so these positions can be filled?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for her answer. I worked in the field for 23 years. I understand the importance of the crossover. We did a lot of crossover, so I understand that and I understand the importance of it. I still struggle with why you're changing job descriptions from a youth officer and a sport and recreation one and making it combined to one.

I guess my next question is: Why is the government looking at it? Is this going to be a potential cut? Because now we're going to have two people in the region doing the same, similar, job, same job description, is...

I'd like to thank the Minister for her answer. I already knew there was three, one in Yellowknife, one in North Slave and one in Inuvik region, but there's three other positions that have not been filled and for the most part it's been 15 months. So it's been over a year for some of these, two of them I know of for sure. Can the Minister provide a rationale on why this department has not filled these positions to this date?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today it saddens me to inform this House that Joe Punch passed away on December 7, 2016, at the longterm care unit in Fort Simpson. As most people who are aware of Mr. Punch, he was a father, husband, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, and a friend to all that knew him.

I had the pleasure to get to meet Joe on my first trip to Sambaa K’e in the fall of 1992. Upon landing at the airport, Joe met the plane, and we had a good conversation as we walked towards the community office. From that moment, I realized he was a great storyteller and a historian of the area. Each...

I'd like to thank the Minister for her answer. It's unfortunate it's taken 15 months to do a job description that hasn't even been classified yet on what the pay is going to be.

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding the department is changing these job descriptions, of both the youth and the sport and recreation position, and combining it to one sort of, kind of, a job description collectively. So what is the rationale behind this change?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in a previous session I asked the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs about the youth position in the Nahendeh and when it was going to be filled. I was told it would be filled in January. I was assuming it was this January. Well, Mr. Speaker, the time has come and today nothing has happened in my riding. It's been over 15 months, so, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please advise the status of the youth positions across north? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for the answer. He kind of answered the question. What I was asking, though, was: is that policy, the medical travel policy developed by the Department of Health and Social Services, applicable across the territories? I think the Minister answered the question, saying it does.

So my second question, and maybe he can answer this one. I shouldn't say can, I know he can. In regard to non-medical escorts, when people move from a small community to a larger centre, sometimes they lose that support system. So what is the process to allow people to get non-medical travel that are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that answer. I'm looking forward to that work. I think it's a very positive step. Can the Minister make a commitment to this House to report on the recommendations and see exactly where they are by the next sitting? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for her answer. In looking at the report, there were a number of recommendations. Can the Minister advise this House if any of these recommendations have been implemented at this date?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'm going to just do a couple of acknowledgements. First of all, I'd like to thank all my colleagues both here and on both sides for a great sitting and the work we are doing for the residents of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to take my time to recognize a few individuals in an organization in my riding. Mr. Speaker, the first person I'd like to recognize is Kathie McLeod. Ms. McLeod is the Echo-Dene School secretary and I know her personally, and I find her to be an amazing individual.

Mr. Speaker, after receiving her...