Jackson Lafferty

I’d like to acknowledge my constituency assistant up in the gallery: Madelaine Pasquayak.

Also Verna for her hard work over the years since I came on board as a rookie.

I’d also like to acknowledge a couple of Pages here, acknowledging all the Pages who have been doing great work. Most importantly are my Pages: Magdalene Steinwand and Sharon Lafferty, who are here with us doing awesome work.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Aurora College, 2009-2010 Annual Report. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment recognizes the importance of literacy in fulfilling our vision of healthy, educated citizens participating in a strong and prosperous society. In 2009, we renewed our commitment to literacy by implementing the second Northwest Territories Literacy Strategy. The strategy describes how we will increase the literacy levels of Northerners of all ages, in all official languages. Today I am pleased to provide you with highlights of the new strategy.

Mr. Speaker, in the area of early childhood literacy development, we support family...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to recognize the following students in the gallery today who are here as part of the Bring Your Child to Work Day. Sydney Friesen is a Grade 9 student from St. Pat’s and Cassidy Menard is a Grade 9 student from Sir John Franklin. Both are former Legislative Assembly Pages. Both are daughters of Legislative Assembly staff, Donna Friesen and Cheryl Menard.

Also in the gallery is Ryan Gould, who is a Grade 9 student from Sir John. He’s accompanied by his mother Jackie Gould, who’s here as a member of the Executive staff of the Legislative Assembly. Welcome to the...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Evidence Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Evidence Act in respect of the use in legal proceedings of quality assurance records and information about the proceedings of quality assurance committees that examine health services. In addition, a number of minor improvements are made throughout the act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Conflict of Interest Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Conflict of Interest Act to provide that a member of a municipal council or a public board who is an employee of the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Government of Canada or an agency of either government does not, by that reason only, have an indirect pecuniary interest in a contract or other matter in which his or her employer has an interest. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Evidence Act, be read for the first time. Mahsi.

There have been, within the policy, changes to certain programs. I need to dig further into this particular area. The Member is referring to individuals who are being sent to a halfway house. I need to work with my colleague, as well, at the Health and Social Services department and find out what the status is, which file he is referring to.

Like I said, with certain inmates, they are transferred to certain areas, depending on their circumstances and their positions. I need to gather more information on this particular file.

Mahsi. I did commit to the Member that we will explore and review the Saskatchewan legislation to see if it has the context and also relevance from a Northwest Territories perspective. So I did commit already and we will look into this. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Conflict of Interest Act, be read for the first time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.