I believe Aurora Research Institute is already doing that type of work and continuing to promote other types of education opportunities, as I mentioned. The mandate, actually, for the Aurora Research Institute is to improve the quality of life for NWT residents by applying scientific, technological, and Indigenous knowledge to solve Northern problems and advance social and economic goals, which is a goal and a mandate of this government. I believe Aurora Research Institute is already doing this and will continue to promote innovative ways of education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This is why I made the statement. What Aurora Research Institute is doing is good, solid research that is advancing scientific knowledge, but what a knowledge economy is, is using the skills and expertise of these hubs to build economic opportunity, and that is exactly what we are talking about. It cannot just be up to ITI. I think we are hearing about a lot of good work that is going on in the natural resource economy, but we need to focus on building a knowledge economy.

What the Minister is saying is not quite right. I am wondering if he will commit to developing a knowledge economy strategy, working with his department to identify both labour market demands, skills and training that can fuel those demands, and access the opportunities that currently exist and develop them into full-blown economic opportunities that can create jobs and growth in our communities. Will the Minister commit to a plan that does exactly that?

As Members know, we do have the Labour Market Information Report that talks about the needs that we have in the Northwest Territories. We are using that to adjust job creation as well as focusing on residents in the North so that they can get into the workforce. We will work with our departments to address those needs, and we will continue to support Aurora College and Aurora Research Institute. We are working on an overarching legislation that will allow other institutes to come up in the Northwest Territories and create some of those opportunities that the Member is referring to.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, the Minister is looking at what we have currently got in play. Embracing one economic model does not mean abandoning the other. The work they have done is about existing economic opportunities in the Northwest Territories. I am talking about creating new economic opportunities.

Let us go with the Minister has said here. We need to bring in more universities and more post-secondary institutions. When is the Minister going to develop legislation to enable these post-secondary institutions to operate in the Northwest Territories? I am talking about an overarching post-secondary act for the Northwest Territories so we can get institutions like Dechinta, like College nordique, and any other university that wants to come up north, train students, and contribute to our economy. When is that legislation going to come forward to this House? Thank you.

We are currently working on that legislation. I don't have a time frame for right now, but once I do get more details, I will share it with the Member. Thank you.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Lands. I would like to ask the Minister if he can briefly explain the equity lease. Thank you.

Masi. Minister of Lands.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Equity leases were leases that were entered into between the Government of Northwest Territories and individual residents on Commissioner's land. Essentially the lease set out a program of payment which enabled the lessees, the individuals, to make up-front larger payments of the lease amount and then a nominal amount through the term of the lease. I must say that there are many interpretations as to what rights that gave the lessor and lessees. Thank you.

What can the Minister do to create more certainty around the equity lease or leasing in general? I think it was indicated there is something to whether or not the rights issue was considered or contemplated. The simple question is: what can he do to create more certainty?

One of the things I can do is ensure that no more equity leases are granted because of the very confusion that the Member opposite has mentioned. As I say, there were many different interpretations as to the rights of the lessees at the end of the lease, and the obligations of the government also. There will not be any more equity leases granted.

I would like to ask the Minister if Regular Members will have an opportunity or a chance to have input in the land leasing policy that is in place now.

Yes, of course, Mr. Speaker, and in fact, in January of this year I appeared before committee to discuss this very issue and correspondence was exchanged with respect to the very issue raised by the Member.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in my Member's statement, the leasing policy seems to be a counterproductive policy. I was wondering if the Minister can commit to the House that he will meet with his colleagues, the Ministers responsible for Housing, MACA, and Finance, to see if a more appropriate and lower leasing rate can be attained from meeting with his colleagues to ensure that individuals are able to apply for programs in those areas. Thank you.

I do realize the importance of this matter, and I certainly will just be discussing this matter further with the Minister for MACA. I cannot guarantee what the result of those conversations will be, but I agree to undertake them. Thank you.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Masi. Minister of Justice.

As this House will know, there have been a series of public meetings, there have been eight through the Northwest Territories, so at this point, the information obtained at those meetings is being collected, along with the information we received online. I understand more than 1,100 responses. I hope to have a "what we heard" document soon and we will, of course, provide that to Members as soon as I have received it. Thank you.

Thanks, Minister, for that. It sounds like the engagement was well received, and I look forward to getting the compilation of it. I complimented the Minister earlier for the meeting that I attended here in Yellowknife.

Not unlike liquor distribution and sales, our response to cannabis legalization has to take into account that most communities are too small for their own sales outlets. It is likely that some legal arrangement for shipping of products will be needed, and there may be a desire for additional restrictions by local governments. How does the Minister plan to address these complexities with a system that is locally responsive and respectful?

Yes, we do realize that we do face some logistical challenges that other jurisdictions do not have, and we realize also that we do have challenges in addressing addictions of abuse of alcohol and drugs as it is in the Northwest Territories. We do recognize that some communities may want to have authority to regulate cannabis within the community. My concern, if we should follow that route, is that generally speaking it creates confusion and complexity if you have a patchwork of laws. It would seem to be generally speaking better, and I would have to wait to think about this further to discuss it with my colleagues, is that generally speaking it is better to have a uniform law throughout the jurisdiction. As I say, you could have a patchwork of legislation which may be overly complex.

I thank the Minister for his reply. The NWT is always complicated, and I am glad to hear that he has been giving some thought to these issues. Another complex element of this undertaking is pricing and revenue. Other jurisdictions have embarked on this legalization in recent years, and there are lessons to be learned. I am just wondering if the Minister can tell us whether his department is doing any research into the experience and lessons of other jurisdictions that have legalized cannabis, and whether that research might be made public.