Jackson Lafferty

As it stands, obviously, we would like to follow what the Chief Medical Officer recommends, and I understand that she has stated that she doesn't have the authority to stop this from happening, people coming from the South. It is this government that is responsible, and we have had experience with PDAC participants who came back and there are some issues. This is becoming a pandemic, as it has been called. We have people coming in from the South. We don't know where they have been, but they are it bringing into the Northwest Territories. Not only the Northwest Territories, but small and...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. I am glad the Minister is recognizing the importance of language and cultural preservation. It should be. I fully support a stand-alone department. My final question, basically, is: we do have interpreters here in our booths, as you know, with so many years of experience. Most of them are on the verge of retirement. I would like to know if there is a plan in place, either now or if the department is working on one, that can be provided to me. In the next five years, next 10 years, how is that going to look? We have valuable services here. They are going to be retiring sooner...

[Translation] When we are speaking in our language, without the interpreters, if we don't use our language, we will lose our language. I would like to ask the Minister at this time [Translation ends] [microphone turned off] ...partnerships in the past over the years, even through the Language Bureau back in 1990s, what is the responsibility of Indigenous governments or organizations on the language interpreter training? I understand that there are set allocated funds to these groups. Are there set targets on an annual basis, five-year, 10-year plan, to produce these qualified interpreters from...

Mr. Speaker, I did have questions for the Premier, so if you could put me back on the list. Masi.

I am just trying to get the points across so I can share them with my constituents, as well. People who have been texting and messaging us. People who are coming from the South. To be self-isolated, is it optional, or is it mandatory from our perspective, the government's perspective?

Madam Chair, just on the SAFE program, the CARE program, seniors aging in place retrofit and repairs, we've identified the 2020 main estimates. I'm just curious, the program itself, is it all income-tested, household income? The reason I'm asking is there were questions on that with ECE, I believe. There is a seniors fuel subsidy, and we only income-test the heads of households; not family members living with them, but just the two heads of households. Have we considered that for these programs? I know there are some people living in the community who don't qualify because their household...

Obviously, I would like to see some sort of correspondence between the federal government and the territorial government. There has been a lot of discussion on this subject, even from previous governments until today. I am asking the Minister of Finance to table this in the House, her department's, and also the Minister of Infrastructure's department, most recent proposal for federal, national, trade corridor funding respecting the Frank Channel Bridge replacement project.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I spoke earlier about the Frank Channel Bridge earlier today. I also spoke about the federal government and the impossible road to the mines. We have a lot of Ministers. The Minister that is here, the Minister of Finance, my question is directed to the Minister of Finance. [End of translation]

[Microphone turned off] ...spending on the less critical Slave geological transportation corridor. Mr. Speaker, I guess we have to juggle the departments, but I will ask the Minister of Finance: could the Minister of Finance please explain how the Slave Geological...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Sorry, it was not English. I'd like to apologize for that. Okay, I've got it. [Translation ends]

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I'd like to talk about the bridge, the Frank Channel Bridge.

Mr. Speaker, last August, the territorial government announced that it had secured a $30 million contribution from the federal government's National Trade, and also a $10 million contribution will fund environmental assessments, and also, I would like to talk on this issue. [Translation ends]

Mr. Speaker, [microphone turned off] ...million contribution from the federal...

Masi, Madam Chair. I highly urge this Minister to seriously consider possibly making -- because it is a policy change, similar to what we've done with ECE in the past, and it worked really well for seniors and elders in the community. Housing is a big challenge in the community, people accessing it, and there are so many complaints and issues. I think, once the Minister looks into this and makes some minor changes with regard to household income versus the head of household income, I think that will make a huge difference. I am seriously hoping that the Minister will consider that as we move...