As I said last week in this House, I think we anticipate the launching of the ferries in a timely manner, as it normally is the first or second week of June. Like I say, we are doing some painting. We are doing inspections. We are doing some maintenance on the vessels. I do not know if the loaders and stuff are out fixing the approaches right now, as they could be soft still from the water levels just recently receding. I can check into it and update the Member.

You know, it is different every year, as the Minister just explained, but usually as early as the 1st or 2nd of June, the ferry is usually ready. As soon as we have no ice on the river, they usually launch the ferry and build up the landings, start operations. We have a graduation this coming weekend. Does the Minister think that the ferry will be operating by then?

I will have to check with the department to see where we are with a number of these things. Like I said, with the painting and the repairs and stuff going on and the site preparation, I cannot commit to this House if it is going to be ready or not for graduation this weekend. We will see what the department comes back with about how things are going on the ground.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to ask the Minister: is there anything that is holding back the ferries? Are they waiting for any parts or anything at this time, or are they just doing the final preparations for the ferry? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I believe there have been some challenges around accessing parts and stuff, but I believe that, going forward, with all the other work that is happening, I do not believe that will impede the delivery date of when we are going to put the ferries in during the first or second week of June.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Mental Health First Aid is one of the programs that we offer throughout the Northwest Territories. It is recognized internationally as one of the best practice models out there for tackling mental health issues, and we make it available to all residents across the Northwest Territories. In-house, we do have training for our staff about our particular programs and services they provide, but that is for staff that we have within the Health and Social Services system. As far as training we provide to other GNWT employees, I would have to check with the department to see what we do make available, if anything. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for that answer. I guess we are seeing too many tragedies out here in this world, especially in all of our ridings. As we move forward, will the Minister look at other alternatives such as the strengthening mental health for children offered through NWTRP as an opportunity for front-line workers to be using that course?

When it comes to addressing mental health issues and challenges across the Northwest Territories, there are a number of stakeholders and partners involved doing really fantastic work. Bell Canada is doing a significant amount of work to create awareness and encourage people to talk about the challenges that residents are having, and there are other organizations like Sport and Rec Council that are delivering training as well.

I am not as familiar with the program that the Member is talking about today. I have asked the Member to provide me with some details on the program so that I can share that with the department, have a discussion with him on how it may fit within the current types of programs that we're delivering, but until I am familiar with that type of program, or that exact program, actually, I am not prepared to make any commitments to have it as one of the ones that we're delivering on behalf of Health and Social Services.

The Minister is right. He has asked me to get that information to him, and I will get that information to him. I guess the next question for the Minister: what kind of work has the department been doing to train other departments in working to help address this challenging issue?

There are a number of different things that we're doing. We have the ASIST training as well. That is available to Education, Culture and Employment. I know Education, Culture and Employment takes this very seriously as well and is looking at providing different types of supports in their school system. We are currently working on a Youth Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan, which we are hoping will help strengthen us and the services we provide in this area.

I will go back to Mental Health First Aid, Mr. Speaker. This is, as I have indicated, a Canadian program. In the Northwest Territories, it is catered specifically to the Northwest Territories and some of the challenges we are facing. It is recognized internationally as one of the best practises, one of the best courses, for helping people get trained and aware and also, in the Northwest Territories, point them to where services are available for residents. So we are encouraging people to attend this. I would strongly encourage all MLAs to attend this three-day workshop and help develop those skills, and non-Members as well, so that they could talk about this program and encourage others to attend from a point of view of knowing and understanding the course. I have had an opportunity to take it, Mr. Speaker. It is a fantastic course, and it is well worth the three-day investment.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his answer. I, too, have taken the Mental Health First Aid training, but also have taken Strengthen Children's Mental Health as well, and basically, what I am looking at is: can the Minister make a commitment to work with his colleagues, the other Ministers, to have the front-line staff get some training out there? Because we are having lots of tragedies out there. We are seeing a lot of losses of lives, and it is really disappointing. Will the Minister work with the Minister of MACA and the Minister of ECE to get the front-line workers out there, just get that commitment to start working together on this issue for further training? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when it comes to action plans that are across departments, like the Youth Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan that is coming, we do work closely with our partner departments to make sure that whatever we are proposing is reasonable and feasible across the Government of the Northwest Territories. I do take the Member's point, and we do need to work to ensure that our front-line staff, including teachers, social workers, income support workers, and others who may have direct contact with individuals who are struggling are aware and can identify the signs and properly provide advice to those residents and point them in the right direction. I will certainly have some additional conversations with my colleagues about encouraging some of their staff members to participate in training like the Mental Health First Aid.

Masi. Oral questions. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to Commissioner's opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Government Operations has reviewed Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Tobacco Tax Act.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Tobacco Tax Act to permit the introduction of an excise-paid tax stamp to facilitate verification that the proper taxes have been paid on tobacco sold in the Northwest Territories, thereby reducing opportunities for the sale of contraband tobacco. The bill also amends the process for tax collection to the "purchase method," requiring the remittance of taxes owing by wholesalers to the government of the Northwest Territories at the time that tobacco is purchased from manufacturers. Finally, the bill eliminates the need for retail dealers to act as "deputy collectors" under the act and eliminates commissions paid to wholesale dealers.

Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Government Operations held a public hearing on this bill in Yellowknife on April 6, 2017. At that hearing, the committee heard from Mr. Roger Walker who, as the owner and general manager of Territorial Tobacco Products, is the only tobacco wholesaler resident in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Walker raised some general concerns about tobacco tax collection that are outside of the scope of the bill. The committee understands that the government's Department of Finance has taken Mr. Walker's concerns into consideration and responded accordingly. The committee would like to thank Mr. Walker for his input.

A public clause-by-clause review of the bill took place earlier this afternoon. With that, Mr. Speaker, the committee wishes to report that Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Tobacco Tax Act, is now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Reports of committee on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Economic Opportunities Strategy: Progress Report 2015-2016." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table "Appendices for Return to Written Question 19-18(2): Position Vacancy and Overtime Statistics." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for NWT Power Corporation.