Jackson Lafferty

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Mr. Speaker, this month is Elders' Month, and we hold them in great respect. They lead us. They guide us into everything that we do. We also have respect for our elders. They give us guidance. As we stand here, we have elders in our community who guide us, so we need to have respect and take care of them. We also know the kind of life they led. They have a lot of traditional knowledge.

Mr. Speaker, not only that but in the Northwest Territories, we know that our elders go through some hardship. Sometimes they are harsh with their words to their families, their...

The next line of questions is pertaining to enforcement. As you know, a lot of our communities, 10-plus communities, do not have RCMP detachments, so what is the process where an elder or a senior is being verbally or physically abused, especially in communities that do not have an RCMP detachment? What is the process?

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I spoke earlier in my Member's statement about the seniors and what kind of a program is there. We have been thinking about it. That is why I want to ask the Minister for seniors about what kind of a program is there for seniors. [Translation ends]

[Microphone turned off] ...month. I have some questions for the Minister responsible for Seniors. The first question I have is: what kind of programs exist for our elders' or seniors' care, more specifically in the area of verbal and physical abuse here in the Northwest Territories? Masi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, my leadership has demanded a new school. I am glad that the Minister is following through with that. This is a very serious issue that is before us, a 50-plus-years-old school. It requires, obviously, demand from the school that they replace it with a new school. The next question I have to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, obviously, is a decision. Which of the two options, school replacement or renovation of the existing school, is the Minister leaning towards? This is a question from my leadership, Mr. Speaker. Masi.

Just moving on, my next questions is about feasibility. What has the Minister's done to determine the feasibility of replacing Chief Jimmy Bruneau School with a new modern school today?

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] In Edzo, the Chief Jimmy Bruneau School, about 50 years ago, I was in the Chief Jimmy Bruneau School. It has been quite some time. Fifty years ago, I was at the Chief Jimmy Bruneau School. The last time they did renovations was 25 years ago. The people from the community of Behchoko want a new school to be built. Even the chiefs are asking for a new school to be built. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to talk about this. [Translation ends]

When the government honours a community by building a new school, the students also feel honoured. They have a greater interest in...

In the next few decades, it will be a 100-year-old school. This is not acceptable. The school is deteriorating. We may not see it on the surface, but it is. The maintenance crew obviously has been telling us, as well, but I'll move on to my next question because this is a question from my leadership and my community members of Behchoko. The education department has no problem promising to replace J.H. Sissons in Yellowknife with a brand new school. Why is Chief Jimmy Bruneau School, which is five years older, not receiving the same treatment or consideration?

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] As I spoke in my Member's statement earlier, when Chief Jully Bruneau asked for a school, that was about 50 years ago. Again, today, I ask about Education, Culture and Employment that is under education [End of translation] ...for a new school in our community of Behchoko. I would like to ask questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment about his capital plans for a community school. The first question I have for the Minister is: what criteria does his department use for deciding whether to build a new school or simply rehabilitate an...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. I rise to express my solemn gratitude and solemn gratitude for those Northerners who risked their health and well-being to save Northwest Territories against the ravages of COVID-19. First on everyone's mind are the front-line healthcare professions who stood guard, ever vigilant and caring. The NWT is blessed with the best, most dedicated doctors, nurses, healthcare professions, the technicians, and support staff in the world. Mr. Speaker, the gratitude doesn't stop there. We cannot forget the unsung heroes who maintain our critical northern chain of supplies from the truck...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, the Edzo highway camp, the crew will be happy with this announcement. They have been waiting for some time now, so it's good. Mr. Speaker, my last question to the Minister was alluded to earlier. Would the Minister please provide a complete schedule of the past visits to the Edzo highway camp by either herself, regional manager, superintendent, assistant deputy minister, deputy minister? Would she commit to having her department or her staff or herself travel the road to visit and meet with the staff of the Edzo highway crew? Masi, Mr. Speaker.