Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The past several months have been very busy for the Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification program. In 2007 a review of the program was initiated by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. This review was commissioned to ensure the system remained responsive to the demand for tradespeople in the North and across Canada.

The review provided 22 recommendations, some of which were initiated immediately upon completion of the report. An executive summary and an action plan addressing these recommendations were recently released to the public. These actions...

Yes, I will, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, as I stated, we need to consult with the small businesses in the North. I do believe that during the last round of increases there was an outcry from the small businesses. We need to consult with them as well. We can’t just say we’re going to increase wages at this time.

That type of information will be crucial to us to proceed, if we need to proceed forward, to increase the minimum wage. That is the information we need to tackle and consult with the small businesses on. We need that information from the Member as well.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Regarding the capital infrastructure for community museums that the Member is referring to, we can certainly provide the breakdown. I don’t have any in front of me right now, but I will break it down for the Member.

Mr. Speaker, we have to focus on the small communities that have two man detachments and also three man detachments and four man detachments, because backup policy does take up a lot of overtime hours for RCMP officers. We need to look after their safety. Those are the areas that we need to focus on. And, yes, the Member’s riding will be positively impacted, and other ridings as well. That’s what we are focusing on, and we’re getting ready for the special announcement in the early new year. We are looking forward to that, and I will continue working with the Members on this particular item. If...

Mr. Chair, Aurora College does get direct funding from ECE, so they go through our department. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for asking that question on special constables. It has been an ongoing discussion on that issue. Just recently, in early September, I went to Quebec City and met with provincial, federal and territorial Ministers at that time. I did stress, as I indicated in my Minister’s statement, the urgency of having special constables in the North — our uniqueness, our isolated post and also the backup plan with nine two-man detachments. It is sometimes difficult.

The Minister of Public Safety was there, Minister Day, and he heard my concerns. He did stress to all of...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. This is something that I need to look into in my department. I don’t have the information in front of me if there has been consultation with the industry. In the past they have initiated various training programs as partnerships. They have simulators as well. I can certainly look into that further and get back to the Member on this specific topic. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Last month I attended a meeting with my counterparts from across Canada. We discussed many issues related to justice and public safety, but the one that will likely be of particular interest to this Assembly was the issue of aboriginal justice and policing.

I called for improvements to policing in our small and remote communities and highlighted the challenges of northern policing. There was considerable support from the provinces and territories as well as the federal Minister, Mr. Day. Many said that they have similar issues, especially in their remote and northern...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled 19th Annual Report of the Victims Assistance Committee of the Northwest Territories: Part 2, September 2008.

Document 102-16(2), 19th Annual Report of the Victims Assistance Committee of the Northwest Territories: Part 2, September 2008, tabled.