Jackson Lafferty

There is a process that we need to follow. I haven’t looked at those recommendations as of yet but I will be reviewing them. When it comes to making those changes, we have to consider all options as we move forward.

Mahsi, 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 second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Territorial Court Act to increase the monetary limit that applies to the civil jurisdiction of the territorial judges. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Most of the discussions we’ve heard at the regional forums are specific to that area of dealing with the ongoing child and even the two and three year olds, focussing on them because they have to start early. That is planted into the document that is going to be tabled. It does highlight the importance of starting early and having parents and educators involved and also the leaders. This is a shared responsibility. We have to do it together. Even the grandparents are involved. So, Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling the document that will highlight all the specific key points that we’ve heard...

Thank you, 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 first time.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This particular area is of great interest and also a priority of this government. Early childhood development and childcare has always been a priority of this government. We all know that learning starts at early ages. Part of the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, the first priority is the early childhood development and childcare.

We’ve heard over and over from the regional forums, the people of the North, the educators, the parents, that this needs to be at the forefront, the first priority. We have initiated that. This will be part of the document I will be...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Aboriginal Student Achievement Education Plan, August 2011.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. One of the ways that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has worked towards this Assembly’s goal of healthy, educated people is through the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative. Regional Aboriginal student achievement forums were an important part of this, with a final forum in May 2011. All the forums had excellent attendance and participation from the youth, elders, Aboriginal leaders, education authorities, and community leaders.

Subsequently, a meeting was held with Aboriginal government leaders, education authorities, and Aurora College to discuss...

That is the overall plan, to have the funding allocated to the communities. That’s been specified. As of July 2011 there’s been a commitment of just over $521,818 transferred to five regions and on to the communities. So it is a commitment of this government to allocate the funding to the communities so the community organizations can access the funding. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment’s official languages division has been hard at work on three important projects: the Aboriginal Languages Plan, the Aboriginal Languages Summer Institute, and the Strategic Plan on French Language.

In October 2010, the Government of the Northwest Territories tabled its strategic document, “Northwest Territories Aboriginal Languages Plan – A Shared Responsibility.”

The plan outlines how the government, non-government organizations, and Northerners will work together to strengthen Aboriginal language use. In addition, it...

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