Jackson Lafferty

Mr. Speaker, we are receiving a lot of comments, issues and feedback on this moving-forward basis. The understanding is, yes, there needs to be a change, but what kind of change we don’t know. I could say that there is support for change but the end product still will be seen after April 1st. Mahsi.

I do have staff in my department that I monitor and work closely with. Even though they write the Minister’s statements for me, I go through it and do a double check. It’s not board reform that wrote the statement for me.

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

I’d just like to recognize all the students that are here, the teachers, the chairpersons and the parents as well. Welcome to the Assembly. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, maybe the Member looked at it as gambling, but we look at it as cost efficiency and an effective way of operating. Just moving forward, we are compiling information. No decision has been made to date. That message needs to be clear. When April 1st comes along, that is the date that we will compile information and decide if we are going to move forward or not. The Members will be involved as well through the standing committee and the decision-making they will be involved in. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Certainly in my role as the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment I will be defending my department on a moving-forward basis, making sure that programs are not impacted. We are going to continue with the program delivery in all schools, all 33 communities that we serve.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Northwest Territories Foundation Annual Report for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2008.

Mr. Speaker, this winter the federal government implemented a savings plan to assist persons with disabilities and their families.

The Registered Disability Savings Plan, or RDSP, is a tax-free investment to financially support persons with disabilities. For every dollar invested into an RDSP, the federal government also provides a contribution in the form of grants or bonds, which are based on the beneficiaries’ annual household income.

When withdrawing RDSPs, beneficiaries will receive a combination of the accumulated contributions, grants, bonds and income. Upon withdrawal, beneficiaries...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this certainly isn’t an easy process that we’re going through. Certainly there are two parts to my statement and I will certainly be speaking my language and also at the same time, I will be speaking English right after.

[English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to say a few words that I have spoken in my language. Of course, my statement will be short and right to the point. Mr. Speaker, I will be selective and choose my words wisely as this is an important era in the territorial government, in this 16th Assembly. Ever since I got...

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize Harriette Paul, originally from Behchoko and the Tlicho announcer on CBC. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize my constituents and also my chiefs: Chief Leon Lafferty of Behchoko, Chief Charlie Nitsiza of Whati. Also, I’d like to recognize David Reid, president of NWTTA sitting with us. Mahsi.