Jackson Lafferty

I have to work with various groups, whether it be the Safety Committee, the WSCC, the Governance Council, and also my colleague in Nunavut. It’s just a process that we’re going through. I realize that it is taking some time. Again, it is a complex issue but once it’s in my deliverance, then I need to consult with my colleague in Nunavut and possibly tabling the document, then we can move forward on the complex document that’s before us.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First, I would like to commend those individuals who have been involved with providing input into this. It’s a very comprehensive and complex regulation system that is before us. There has been some input and amendments to the regulations themselves. Right now, as it stands, I have forwarded that to WSCC Board of Governors. They are meeting in early March in Iqaluit. They are going to be reviewing that and they will provide recommendations back to me. From there I need to work with the Nunavut Minister responsible for WSCC, my colleague. From there we need to move...

If the school boards feel that it’s a critical part of the safety program, then they can deliver that in the schools. We provide annual funding to the school boards based on enrolment. So we will continue to support the school boards, the eight school boards that we have, and 33 communities. I must emphasize that I am Minister responsible for 33 communities, not only one school, so I have to be responsible for all 49 schools. Mahsi.

When I talk about WHMIS and other training that’s happening in the community, there is always training happening in various communities and it does relate to First Aid and CPR as well. That’s what I was referring to.

Within our education system, currently there is no mandated requirement for students to take First Aid training. However, various boards and various schools are offering First Aid and CPR, and I commend them for that as well. At the same time, there is nothing stopping school boards or the schools to deliver that training, that First Aid and CPR. Like I said, it’s always happening...

They are meeting next week, the WSCC board council. Then once we get the report back, I need to hear them out as well. This came from the safety council, so from there we are hoping by this calendar year to deliver that package to part of the Assembly here. I will keep the Members up to speed on the process itself.

As indicated, this is a very complex document. The Board of Governors will be reviewing it next week in Iqaluit and they will be reporting back to me, and I will be meeting with the chair and the counsel. My colleague from Nunavut as well. That’s where it’s at at the present stage.

Mr. Speaker, the letter I was referring to was a response to the NWT Mine Heritage Society, that letter I received, and I responded to the individual, the president. Also, there was a distribution list with all the MLAs. The information has been sent and shared with the NWT Mine Heritage Society as a response. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. As you know, currently we provide some funding allocation to culture and heritage organizations. Within that, there are approximately 15 different organizations that we sponsor. Out of the 15, there are approximately seven of them who are with respect to the cultural projects, heritage, Yamozha Kue Society, the museum, historical centres, heritage centres and so forth and also the Minister’s Cultural Circle is another venue that we recognize for valuable contribution towards the Northwest Territories on preserving our culture, language and our heritage. Those individuals...

Mr. Speaker, the Minister’s Culture Circle, again, does highlight those individual groups and organizations, also individuals. There are elders, youth, and Minister’s choice. It does consist of heritage as well, so it’s not exclusive just to the culture and language. It covers heritage as well. In order to fulfill those requests, we need to have those discussions with the various groups. We’ve done that with the Minister’s Culture Circle before we initiated the project, but to consult and engage with public stakeholders. We do have a program in place that already has been very successful to...

Mr. Speaker, as I stated in my response to the letter, I was in full agreement with the suggestion of the heritage, culture and history. They all complement each other. I would like to take this opportunity to better inform the new part of the Minister’s Cultural Circle Recognition Program. With the funding the Member alluded to, I can certainly provide the detailed list. I do have approximately $2.2 million that is going towards all 15 different organizations. Out of that, it will be what the Member is referring to, those nine organizations, and I can provide the breakdown. Mahsi.