Statements in Debates
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, will be supporting the motion.
Mr. Speaker, this policy is not new to the Housing Corporation. There was a previous transitional policy in place, especially for individuals who found themselves unemployed for some time and to make the transition from unemployment to employment, and more importantly, meaningful employment.
Mr. Speaker, I think it’s important to realize that through a gradual increase process, regardless if it’s 15 percent a month going forward until you finally work your way up to maximum rents, I think we also have to be cognizant of the seasonal...
Like my colleague for Nunakput, in regards to Sachs Harbour, I just noted, going through the lists, Tsiigehtchic is not on there. I am just wondering have we forgotten Tsiigehtchic or is it for some reason excluded. I would just like to know what are the future plans for Tsiigehtchic, because I noted going through 2011-2012 and 2013-2014, Tsiigehtchic is not listed so I don’t know if it is a mistake or if they deleted Tsiigehtchic out of our housing stock altogether. What is the status of Tsiigehtchic.
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.
With that, we will take a short break and begin with Committee Report 3-16(5).
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I call the Committee of the Whole to order. We have tabled documents 4, 30, 38, 62, 66, 75, 98 to 101, Bill 4, Committee Report 3-16(5) and Minister’s Statement 65-16(5). What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to speak in regard to the revitalization of languages and the language groups that aren’t classified as critically endangered, like the Gwich’in language and Inuvialuktun. I think we do have to take immediate action. I think we have to take giant steps to get there. I think one of the immediate things that we can establish is an action plan to deal with the Gwich’in Revitalization Program. I’d like to ask the Minister what we are doing to work with those groups that find themselves in the situation that their language is classified as critical or...
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...