Statements in Debates
Mr. Speaker, yes, indeed, we are looking at all opportunities that may be available to us. Will there be the college program delivery in our own language? We have seen that at the University of Fairbanks, and even at the post-secondary level they were teaching in their own language with no English, period. It is our dream to be there. At the same time, we need to work with the college board of governors and the staff if they could deliver those types of programming. At the same time, we are lacking resource people, as well, those qualified Aboriginal-speaking teachers.
I am challenging the...
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Northwest Territories recognizes 11 official languages. Nine of them are Aboriginal languages. Yes, indeed, some of the languages, we are losing our language, more specifically, the Gwich’in area and the very reason why we have gone to Fairbanks, Alaska, to find out the best practices. We have initiated that and we brought the information back. We are pursuing rolling out the program.
Yes, all the languages in the Northwest Territories need to be protected, revitalized, and more specifically, those are on the verge of losing their language. We must put more emphasis on...
From the Sahtu perspective, I think we certainly need to take full advantage of the community learning centres at the regional level. Yes, indeed, we need to prepare our people for the opportunities that are coming. At the same time there are talks and we do have a representative from the Sahtu region on the Aurora College Board of Governors, Ms. Ethel Blondin-Andrew. There have been talks about a potential mobile trades unit similar to the Inuvik initiative that’s been very successful. Those are some of the discussions that are happening within the training committee. If there is a meeting...
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. In the Sahtu region there are four community learning centres: Norman Wells, Deline, Fort Good Hope and Tulita. Each of those community learning centres have their own adult educators as well. There is also a Sahtu Regional Training Committee that deals with the long-term planning for the region. We are part of the process as well as the department. Those are ongoing initiatives and discussions that are happening at the regional level. Mahsi.
Those are part of the discussions that my department has been exploring with other jurisdictions as well. Part of the best practices, we analyze other provincial and territorial jurisdictions and how they increase their, I guess, annual wage increase. It has been part of that discussion, yes.
For the record, we’re not picking on the elders, the seniors in the community. We have subsidized the elders in the communities. The Seniors Fuel Subsidy is particularly for those individuals that are low-income households. So we do provide subsidies. At the same time, we have increased the threshold of $10,000 as well. We are making changes to our policy and we will continue to do that. Mahsi.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This particular policy on the Seniors Home Heating Subsidy Program is intended to assist, as the Member stated, low-income seniors. If there are also other individuals living in the household, as well, that are earning an income, they should be contributing towards the actual cost of fuel or food in the household as well.
We’ve heard in the past, our ancestors, our grandfathers, that we have to share within our household, share within the community, and that’s what should be happening with individuals that are living in that particular household. They need to share their...
Mr. Speaker, that is part of the plan to have full-fledged emergent programs in schools. We may not be able to cover all schools at the beginning, but that is part of the long-term plan, part of the ASA and also Aboriginal Languages Strategy. We are going through a business planning cycle. We need to identify those funds. Those two documents that I have highlighted, it is a big document. It is a long-term strategy. We will be rolling out those programs. Mahsi.
Those are discussions that we definitely need to have with language experts from the region and communities because I need to hear them out. It won’t be coming from the top down to say this is what is good for you. I will be working with the Member and also the language experts at the community level. We did form a committee to deal with the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative that is part of that and also Aboriginal Languages Strategy.
There are certain languages that are almost on the verge of extinction. At the same time, we need to protect all languages. If we need to identify Gwich...
Mr. Speaker, I can definitely find out from the Aurora College – they are arm’s length from us when it comes to program delivery – and find out exactly what kind of program has been offered in the region pertaining to the Member’s request. I can get back to the Members as well. Mahsi.