Jackson Lafferty

Masi, Madam Chair. I only have 30 seconds here, but due to these issues or committing $150,000 towards a freezer, there hasn't been any engagement with harvesters. That's why we're questioning things here in the House. We need to be accountable, accountable government. And where does the issue lie? The issue lies with illegal hunting. Let's put our manpower towards that. Let's have a monitor mechanism, enforce that even further. That $150,000 can go towards that; that's what I'm saying. But obviously the Minister and the government feel  doesn't feel the same way. So I'll just leave it at...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are still reeling from the devastating findings last week at the site of Kamloops Indian Residential School. Ground penetrated radar revealed the remains of 215 children, some as young as 3 years old, Mr. Speaker. Chief of BC First Nations says there are bound to be more. Perhaps many, many more as they comb the rest of the school's grounds. It's a terrible reminder of the unspoken abuses Indigenous people have historically suffered in Canada, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, those 215 skeletons were somebody's children, somebody's nephew, niece, and they had family...

Masi, Mr.Speaker. Logistical roller coaster ride for the Northwest Territories and also the people of the Northwest Territories. But each challenge has been met with calm determination. And for that, Northerners and their leaders, their frontline workers, and caregivers must be commended.

We have shown one of the best COVID19 responses in the world and have enjoyed the benefits of that sound, sciencebased approach.

But, Mr. Speaker, we shouldn't get carried away congratulating ourselves in the Northwest Territories. There are still many threats and challenges out there. And as the MJ MacPherson...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Masi, Colleagues. Mr. Speaker, we can't risk on our lowers. COVID and its variants are with us here and forever. This Government has an obligation. That obligation is to ensure we're ready for the new challenges that the new normal are present now and also in the future. I call on the Government to set up a standard task force to anticipate those challenges and ensure the government is ready for them.

I have suggested just a few challenges in need of some actions. Rest assured, there are many more that don't have time to deal with today, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker

[Translation] Mr. Speaker, I made a statement earlier regarding the elections in my region. It will happen on June 14. But I want to ask the Minister, before the elections, whenever there's election, there's a lot of complaints that comes out regarding the regulations. I'm hoping for a smooth election and encourage the communities to work with each other and respect the final decision. But as in the past four years, we witness election and the commotion we had in the communities. [Translation ends].

The election in my region for...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. I didn't get a commitment there, yes or no. Mr. Speaker, this is a very important matter. It's hundredth year anniversary of Treaty 11, and this is a milestone, and everybody's watching us, not just Tlicho region but surrounding communities. And it's very important that we have somebody that can oversee the election, a nonbiased person from outside the community to just oversee the count and to witness it and to sign off that it was a fair process. That's all I'm asking for. And I think if Minister can commit to potentially committing to that, I think it will be more concise...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, my statement will be regarding we're losing a lot of young people in the Northwest Territories and also in the Tlicho Nation. There is a lot of young people that we lost. Some of them, I may mention, but I might not mention all. Just recently, this person is our brother, our uncle. His name is Freddy Bishop from Whati. Not only him, Justin Tutcho, as well. He was living with someone from Behchoko. Lastly, they have passed on, but just recently a young person, David Sangris. His funeral is today. When we look at this situation, we...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. The Minister touched on the formation of a working group to deal more specifically with the Whati transmission line project. I would like to know whether that will be established during the life of the 19th Assembly? We still have two and a half years. Obviously, I would like for this to be expedited because the community wants to prevent this from happening, the 20-plus-hour power outage, so could we expedite the process of establishing the working group and, during the life of this Assembly, a proposal be submitted to the federal government? Is that possible, Mr. Speaker...

When I speak in this House, I represent my people, as their voice. It's the community of Whati today I'm speaking of, and they are tired of the talks under way, the consultation that the Minister alluded to. There needs to be an action-oriented process. This has been a long wait, well over 20 years since we talked about the mini-hydro initiative. Now, a transmission line. We're still talking today, 20 years versus 20 hours of a power outage. I, for one, would like for this government to act on what is in the best interest of the community, and that is the power hook-up. The next question I...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Today, I am going to speak on electricity in my region. Right now, Whati doesn't have electricity to their community. They only have power by diesel generator, and it has stopped so many times, for over 20 hours. The residents of Whati are very concerned. I want to make a statement regarding that. [Translation ends]

Mr. Speaker, last month, the community of Whati suffered a major power outage. It lasted an unbelievable well over 20 hours. It was a level 3 power failure, the Power Corporation's highest level of emergency. The culprit was the community's out-of...