Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker…(Translation)…Members of the Legislative Assembly are often called upon to represent and show support for their constituents in a wide variety of situations. It is a fundamental part of our job that every issue, every complaint and every person should get equal attention from his or her MLA.

Last week, I wrote a letter calling for a lenient sentence for a constituent convicted of sexual assault. It was not my intention to condone the actions of this man or in any way make light of the seriousness of his crime. Sexual assault and other acts of violence...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move to report progress. Mahsi.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommend that the Minister issue a directive reinforcing the use of extended families in the placement of apprehended children and that every effort be made to place children with extended family within the child’s home community before a child protection worker considers placement in a foster home in or outside the child’s home community. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker…(English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, in summary of what I said, this whole purpose of the motion that’s in front of us, I think it has to do with transparency and accountability. They’ve talked about this bridge for a number of years. Even when I came on board two years ago, I hadn’t really heard of the bridge project. I heard it may happen depending on federal funding. If federal funding comes in, then make a move on it. All of a sudden, we are in the 11th hour and boom, boom, boom, we want to build this bridge.

At the same time, Mr. Speaker, we have to consult...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, the committee is appreciative that one of the results of the passage of Bill 5 will be the inclusion of a new clause in the preamble of the Child and Family Services Act that states “And whereas a child’s extended family can often provide important supports in meeting the best interests of the child;”.

A preamble to an act is important in that the preamble sets out the principles that will guide the application of the act.

Recognizing the role of the extended family in child protection matters is an important step and now we need to take the next steps to ensure...

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee wishes to consider Bill 4, Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation Act; Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act; and Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am glad the Minister is taking up the offer. I am looking forward to that. Mr. Speaker, my next leading question is, when we identify a contractor in a community prior to 2005, there might have been a case at that time, but today, if you approach a community and say would you like us to clear your roads, they would be more than happy to take on the opportunity. Is the Minister willing to invest from his department to identify a contractor, whether it be DOT or in the community, to clear the access roads to the traditional cabins? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, policy is policy; it can be amended any time. The Minister has the responsibility to make changes to respect the traditional way of life. So I'd like to ask my final question to the Minister. Would the Minister be willing to meet with the leadership in Behchoko to find a solution for this ongoing issue that has been on the books for a number of years? Mahsi.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Question to the department and the Minister: What responsibilities does the department have in maintaining the residential access roads? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, as I outlined in my Member's statement, the importance of having those cabins on Highway No. 3, with the new road being in place just a few years now, that those cabin owners have been left out in the cold, unable to access their traditional road to their cabins. So I'd like to ask the Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, can the Minister direct his department to repair this access road that I specifically embarked on -- Mr. Charlo’s camp -- and dump some gravel in the open ditch that has been created through the...