Jackson Lafferty

I'm just trying to picture myself as a 91-year-old in the hospital, speaking to somebody in the Tlicho language, with an iPad in front of me or telephone beside me. I think it would be a very difficult, challenging task. They've never been exposed to that. They've been born and raised in the bush, and all of the sudden, it's an English environment in the hospital. I think we can do more, providing additional resources after hours. That's what I'm after. Could the Minister please describe the on-call system that the hospital initiated or instituted to make Dene interpreters available to assist...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Today, I have to say, "Thank you," that we have two Tlicho interpreters, Harriet Paul and Maro Sundberg. We know it's very important to get our message across, for your information. Thank you [translation ends].

Madam Chair, I am assuming that it's been identified as part of the regional contribution that the deputy minister has alluded to earlier. If I can get the breakdown as well on the funding level because I've been questioned from my constituents on the on-the-land healing program. Especially, we've had so many passings in my region over the last several weeks, there is a huge demand for whether it would be a treatment program, treatment centre, or a healing fund in my region, not only in my region but in other regions, as well. If I could get the breakdown because I'm very interested in what...

Masi, Madam Chair. What would be the regional funding allocation? Are we not on that page? I'll ask another question, Madam Chair. As you can see, I'm trying to get to messaging, importance of languages. The Northwest Territories has 11 official languages. Here in the House, we have two interpreters per individual who speaks the language. With the Stanton Hospital, do we have just one interpreter for patients who speaks the language? Let's say, for example, Tlicho. Do we have one interpreter or two or three? I'm just curious because we have so many patients from across walks of life in the...

Masi, Madam Chair. Obviously, whenever we're in session, the federal government is listening to us, looking out for our discussion here. Clearly, this is of importance to the Northwest Territories. We have 11 official languages, and the federal government only recognizes two. We recognize our 11 official languages, and we have to stand firm to say, "These are our own Northwest Territories. We identify nine Aboriginal languages." We need to identify that as part of our budget going forward.

In the previous terms when I was education Minister, I spoke my language to the federal government, and...

Masi, Madam Chair. I'm looking at page 168, the French language services, $970,000, which stands out. As you know, the population of the Northwest Territories, the majority is Aboriginal-language-speaking people. Is that due to the course of a federal contribution towards the French language services? Is that why it's identified on its own? That would be my first question. Masi.

I need the Minister to elaborate more on this on-call system that she's referring to. Is it in place now, or is it coming? It's just a consideration that the hospital is introducing a night shift for medical interpreters at the Stanton Territorial Hospital. Medical interpretation is such a complex system to interpret, so it's very important that we have interpreters available for these patients, Mr. Speaker.

Along with that second question, this is a follow-up. If the Minister can provide that if she doesn't have it with her, along with that consultation with the RCMP. How many charges have the RCMP laid under the Behchoko prohibition order? Masi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. The enforcement of Behchoko temporary liquor prohibition, Mr. Speaker, the first question I have is for the Minister of Justice. What measures have the RCMP adopted to meet increased law enforcement challenges of the Behchoko temporary ban on liquor? Masi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Right now, when they put the restriction on liquor, we were told by the RCMP that they were going to help and do the check stop. When this sort of stuff happened within the community, people were trying to help themselves, and the leaders are doing work for the people and also get help from the RCMP to do the check stop, because we all know that the restriction is there and that the RCMP are not there most of the time. Thank you. [Translation ends].