Alfred Moses

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize the mayor of Inuvik, Denny Rodgers, and Chief Jim Antoine, who both have been strong role models for leaders across the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do want to continue to see these encouraging results going into the next fiscal year and beyond. Just in regard to the zero driving and boating fatalities, I’d like to ask the Minister how the new proposed legislation on hand-held devices with driving has been going and have there been any infractions on that.

We’re in the middle of February here and we’re getting ready for our summer breakup and the ice melting away. That’s a lot of time, plenty of time from now until people get onto the waterways. It’s a good opportunity, as well, for the department to start looking into a possible program like a lifejacket borrowing program, like I said, in all the communities that do sit on waterways. Would the Minister commit to look at such a program and putting funds away so that we can ensure that our residents who travel the Mackenzie River, that our modes of transportation are safe? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Lorraine Phaneuf and Gail Cyr, whose names are very familiar and common when it comes to efficient, healthy and positive programs across the Northwest Territories and in the communities. I’ve heard these names ever since I’ve been in the workforce, and I’m very glad to have finally met both of them and have them both in the House today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, stand here in favour of the motion that my colleague Mr. Yakeleya has presented before us. Language is the foundation of our traditions and cultures. It’s the starting point where we start moving forward, and to continue to keep our traditions and cultures thriving and growing in our communities.

Right now the data shows that our languages are depleting, near extinction for some of the languages, and those need to be addressed. Furthermore, there are other languages that are on the borderline. Those are the ones that we need to take notice of now, before they...

Further to that I just wanted to ask the Minister of Transportation if he’s done any work with our five sport and rec organizations in the NWT who do provide kayak programs, canoe programs, skiing, on-the-land programs that do transportation. Has the Department of Transportation done any work with these sport and rec organizations to provide safety to people who enjoy going out on the land?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Transportation in regard to his Minister’s statement that he made earlier today. It just goes to show that prevention, promotion and education works, and that he’s doing a great job with the Department of Transportation. It’s something that all departments should look into doing, to cut down on the costs in the Northwest Territories.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I was very happy to read in the Inuvik Drum yesterday, recognition of the Wise Women Awards, specifically a former worker, Greta Sittichinli. Mr. Speaker, we’re all here because of women in our lives that have supported us, that have encouraged us, motivated us. Women that are our mothers, our sisters, significant others, so that we can be sitting here today and assisting and leading the people of the Northwest Territories in providing good programs and services.

Like I said, drug dealers preying on our youth to sell their product for them and some cases when the youth do get sentenced, it is usually just a slap on the wrist or diversion to another program where they are let back out into society and they continue to repeat the same type of actions. I want to get commitment from the Minister that he will speak on our behalf to ensure that if the drug dealers aren’t getting, I wouldn’t say punished or convicted, then the youth should understand that by them participating in this type of action, they are going to get convicted under the same type of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my opening Member’s statement I mentioned that I was going to have some questions today for the Minister of Justice in regards to the new proposed crime bill and how it is going to affect our Youth Criminal Act as well as our diversion programs.

How is the new crime bill going to affect how our youth are treated in the court system? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.