Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to announce that the first class of Aurora College graduates to have completed their Bachelor of Education degree in the Northwest Territories held their convocation in Fort Smith on April 27, 2008. The class included 15 graduates. Thirteen are from the Northwest Territories communities of Deline, Fort Good Hope, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith and Yellowknife. Two graduates are from outside of the NWT, from Fort Chipewyan in Alberta and Richibucto Village, New Brunswick. I congratulate all of the graduates and welcome them into the workforce. I learned that many of...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that Bill 4, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2008, be read for the third time.

Mr. Speaker, our department will continue to consult with those individuals that are meeting these challenges. One of them will be the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations that are interested. Our department is willing to share that, upon our sharing that with the committee. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, we did meet with several businesses here in Yellowknife that are dealing with these challenges at hand. Due to that fact, we did have somebody in the department committed to working on this particular piece of work. They are following through with this. Due to the request of the Member for timelines, we have to do what we can with the current system. We’re working with the federal government on the portal, as well. We do have agreements with them, and just continue the process of discussing with them, and at the same time, long-term arrangements on the actual MOU — Yukon’s MOU —...

Mr. Speaker, it does involve various parties to find the needs of the community, where they should be placed and so forth. We as the GNWT, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, continue to work closely with Public Works and Services on finding solutions to the situation we’re in. We’re also identifying another location — an Environment and Natural Resources office potentially. We are looking at all options, because the time is near. August is coming. We’re doing what we can as the Department of Education to find a suitable location for these students, because we want these...

The safety aspect of it was administered by Public Works and Services. There is a report being done on this particular facility, the building. It is a 1960s building. There are problems with the foundation, the structure itself. Public Works and Services would have the report, and I’m sure the Minister of Public Works and Services is willing to share it with the Member upon request.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. To deal with the isolated small communities, those particularly without road access, we do provide funding for shelters or programming, and certainly my department can work with the Member to highlight what we have done, what we have currently in the program. I can certainly assist with those communities based on their needs to deal with homelessness. So we do have programs available for that.

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This year marks a significant recognition for one of my well-respected community members of Behchoko, Father Pochat.

Mr. Speaker, considered a young man among the Tlicho Nation, Father Pochat celebrated his 80th birthday on April 18. Grandon College alumni held a special celebration event as well on May 17 to 18 to recognize Father Pochat for making positive changes in their lives.

Mr. Speaker, Father Pochat was the head administrator of Grandon College in Fort Smith from 1950 to 1970. Under his leadership the college produced many of today’s Northerners, the...

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 7, Securities Act, be read for the third time.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Part 1 – 19th Annual Report of the Victims Assistance Committee of the Northwest Territories.

Document 55-16(2), Part 1 – 19th Annual Report of the Victims Assistance Committee of the Northwest Territories, tabled.