Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the community of Gameti is frustrated over the whole process; it’s been on hold for a number of months and it wasn’t moving anywhere once the bid came in, was too high. That’s why I was asking about alternative measures. But, Mr. Speaker, my final question: This project was scheduled to be completed before the next school year; that was the hope. The bureaucratic red tape is no excuse for any delay; we’ve heard it over and over. When will the building for the Gameti school extension begin? Will it be next year? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask Minister Dent about the next question; that is what other alternative measures were taken by your department to move things forward, especially during the critical time where supplies could have been delivered over the winter road? What were the other alternative measures? Mahsi.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have lost an elder in the past three weeks. His name is Harry Simpson. He's originally from Gameti. He was the last surviving member of the elders negotiation team that settled our Tlicho land claim.

Mr. Speaker, as one of the four elder advisors of the Tlicho Nation, Simpson spent the better part of his life working on the Tlicho Agreement. One of Mr. Simpson's greatest accomplishments was setting up the annual trail of our ancestors' canoe trips, where elders and youth would travel together to celebrate their traditional lifestyles. Simpson...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that there was much done to move things forward with the project. It is my understanding that the bid on the project was high for approval but, at the same time, why hasn’t the department come back to the government to seek additional funds to cover additional costs to complete the project, the most important project in the community of Gameti? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment. Schools across the North are preparing for their year-end school next month. The school in Gameti was approved by this government to build an extension so the community has access to the local gym. (Translation ends)

…prepared for their year-end school next month. The school in Gameti was approved by this government to build an extension so the community can have access to the local gymnasium, which they currently do not have. Construction for this project...

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

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk on an issue that’s very important to the continued survival of the Tlicho and other First Nation languages and cultures. That is the proper funding of a full-time Aboriginal Language and Culture Instructor Program, also known as the ALCIP program, to be delivered through Aurora College.

Mr. Speaker, as it stands right now, the ALCIP program is delivered on a piecemeal basis through either distance learning or individual courses being taught by instructors in the communities. In other cases the...

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends the Minister responsible for the Workers’ Compensation Board ensure the Governance Council and Workers’ Compensation Board administration complete a draft communications protocol and an action plan to address the Auditor General’s recommendation and forward these to the Accountability and Oversight committee by the end of 2006. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight is pleased to present its second report on pre-budget consultations.

The committee held hearings in Aklavik, Fort Liard, Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Katlodeeche First Nation, Sachs Harbour, Wekweeti and Yellowknife between August 17th and September 5, 2006. Following the initial Yellowknife hearings, the committee members split into northern NWT and southern NWT groups in order to visit as many communities as possible within the time available.

The committee recognizes that the timing of the consultations in late summer made it difficult...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Just focussing on the expansion of the department’s vision and focus, would the Minister consider instructing the Aurora College to deliver a full-time ALCIP program in Behchoko as well as all communities in the North so that these communities can offer aboriginal language programming as set out by our own directive? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement today, I spoke of a need to fund a full-time Aboriginal Language and Culture Instructor Program so that those people that were interested in pursuing this as a career will be able to access the Student Financial Assistance Program. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, can the Minister inform this Assembly of the department’s plan to offer a full- time ALCIP program through Aurora College? Mahsi.