David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize the housing managers and the people who work for our housing authorities in our communities: Elaine Blake, the housing manager from Tsiigehtchic. Welcome, Elaine. Roland Rogers, the manager from Aklavik. Welcome, Roland. Betty Firth, the manager from Fort McPherson, who’s been there for many moons. Eleanor Firth, who’s also with the authority. I’d like to welcome you and welcome all of you who I’ve basically had an opportunity to work with in the past. Mahsi cho.

Just a comment. Mr. McLeod, if you want to reply, it’s up to you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Before I begin I would like to thank my colleagues on the Social Programs committee, the research staff of the Legislative Assembly, the individual professional members we had travelling with us, the members from the Department of Health and Social Services who did travel along with us, and last of all a big thank you to those people who did come forward to make their presentations.

At times it was tough for the individuals, but even tough for ourselves, having to sit there and listen to some of the experiences these individuals had with the area of child apprehension...

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Next on the list I have the chair of the standing committee, Mr. Beaulieu.

I would like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. Prior to the break we agreed that we would begin with Committee Report 3-16(5), Standing Committee on Social Programs Report on the Review of the Child and Family Services Act. Are there general comments on the bill? Mr. Abernethy.

Does the committee agree?

I believe it is critical that we do have some sort of central language development institute of some sort in the Northwest Territories. When you talk about aboriginal language it’s more than a language learning program, it’s also looking at the whole area of translating services, training services for language teachers and instructors in those language programs. I think it’s essential that whatever programs and services we do deliver are useable. That is one of the downfalls that you see of a lot of languages. You can see the strong language groups in the Northwest Territories such as the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to speak about the affect of languages in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, the aboriginal language groups I represent, especially the Gwich’in, whose language is presently classified as critical, Mr. Speaker, we are now down to 228 language speakers, the majority of them over the age of 60. Mr. Speaker, I think it’s a critical time in the life of not only our government, but protection of our language, culture and the importance that all our language groups play in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I think it’s important that we not only look...

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Next on the list I have Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Next on the list I have Mr. Bromley.