Jackson Lafferty

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

Mr. Speaker, I’d just like to highlight my support for this motion that’s in front of us today. I’d like to thank Mr. Yakeleya from Sahtu who presented this motion, and Mr. Pokiak as seconder. As we travel the North we hear right from the grassroots people that the power bill itself is extremely high in the small isolated communities. We just visited one of the small isolated communities over the past couple months; Ulukhaktok. When we went there and Tuktoyaktuk, we were just having discussions on the side. A person was having a $1...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m glad the department’s really focussing on the seniors’ home that’s in poor condition right now and the plan to replace that building within five years. But at the same time, Mr. Speaker, the immediate plan is a short-term plan. When is the repair going to be initiated? Because we’re dealing with this issue now. I’m getting so many calls from the communities, especially the elders. When is it going to be happening? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in March, the Minister committed to working on seven major areas of deficiencies as a short-term solution that were found in the seniors’ home. Has the department or can the Minister provide an update on the report? I realize it’s coming in June, but what has the department done to accomplish the deficiencies? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Housing Corporation staff has visited our North Slave district. They looked firsthand at how our people are living in this housing. They also met with the chief of Behchoko. They have never visited our community before. So the community is very thankful that housing staff has visited our community. They said they were going to revisit the community again at the end of this month so that we can work together and make some changes. We would still like to hold them to this. (Translation ends)

Last month, the...

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee wishes to consider Bill 8, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2007-2008. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there was a list that went around the organization, municipality, the list of organizations, association and agencies. The Department of MACA is going by the dates dating back to 1998. That is prior to the Tlicho Agreement that was signed in 2005, the new agreement as an agreement that was signed by this GNWT will full respect. As you can see, it outlines in this agreement one governing body in Behchoko. Why doesn’t this GNWT, the Department of MACA, respect and honour the agreement and acknowledge that there is only one governing body in Behchoko and that...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod, since he sat there quietly. Mr. Speaker, the capacity building fund initiative undertaken by the GNWT, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, was a great investment for 33 communities. Over 90 percent of the fund has been dispersed to date. However, Mr. Speaker, the community of Behchoko is still awaiting their share of the pie. What is the current stage with respect to the capacity building fund with the community of Behchoko? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I just would like to make a brief general comment. My question can be at a later point when we go in detailed discussion. I would just like to highlight the apprentices that were addressed here in the opening remarks. I think this is a step in the right direction. Although the number is small, we must also take a baby step working with the communities, identifying apprentices in the communities; just fill in the gaps to meet the needs of the community. We in the Northwest Territories are lacking a trades workforce. This way, we can certainly work with...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we did sign the Tlicho Agreement, it was a clean slate in 2005. The new government that came into play, the GNWT was supposed to be working with. The proposed investment for this particular capacity building fund, the majority of the fund was supposed to go to the sportsplex in the community of Behchoko. It has been a long time coming, Mr. Speaker. The youth in the community are anxiously waiting for this to happen. Let them see the light and move forward. Will the Minister go ahead and disperse the fund to the community of Behchoko government where...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a hold-up on the funds that was supposed to flow to the community of Behchoko. Some disputes between Behchoko community government and the MACA department less of governing bodies entitled to the said fund, the capacity building fund. Mr. Speaker, can the department outline who is eligible in the community of Behchoko to access this fund?