Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize my parents, Maurice and Dora Marie Lafferty are here with us today. They’re big supporters of mine. And also my auntie Therese Jeremick’a that’s here with us, my uncle Freddie Lafferty, my uncle Jimmy Mantla, and also my sister-in-law Missy Mantla. I’d also like to recognize a Page as well: Shania Clark, aka Clarkie, and that she’s Lucy Rabesca’s daughter, originally from Behchoko. I’d just like to say mahsi for all the services that they provide. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today I will table a draft Legal Aid Act and consultation paper. The Department of Justice is developing a new Legal Aid Act and is seeking comments from the public.

The proposed new Legal Aid Act will provide greater clarity on governance and processes, and a more client-focused, service-oriented approach to our legal aid system.

Feedback from consultation will help to create legislation that strengthens service for all clients and ensures independence, accountability, and transparency in the delivery of legal aid services in the Northwest Territories.

The draft...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents entitled proposed Legal Aid Act and the new Legal Aid Act Consultation Paper, August 2011. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 23, Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, be read for the third time.

If that is the wish of the community of Tuktoyaktuk, then I’m willing to work with that and we can make a decision to defer this matter once the confirmation letter comes in from the three parties. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 22, An Act to Amend the Territorial Court Act, be read for the third time.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It is a credit system that we’ve been talking about since fall 2010. The Member approached our office and also the Tuk Hamlet Council also supported the process. The DEA also supported the initiative. Based on that, we decided to go ahead from what we heard from the community leadership.

If the Member wants to have this deferred, I need to have some confirmation from the DEA and the Member himself and also the Tuk Hamlet Council that they want us to defer the matter until the new fiscal year. I am more than willing to work with that, Mr. Speaker, but I need some...

Definitely, that’s one of the priorities that we have with the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative. That’s a first priority as early childhood development and also child care development. Definitely, this is an area that has been the prime focus in the childhood discussion among the forums in the Northwest Territories among the regions. We’ll keep the Members posted as we move forward. Mahsi.