Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) My Member's statement for today is regarding leaders, the RCMP. When we call the RCMP station in Rae, we are forwarded to Yellowknife station. Sometimes when there are emergencies, we have to wait a very long time to get a response and people are not happy with that. (Translation ends)

…an issue or a concern that many people from my community of Behchoko have been phoning the RCMP after normal hours. Mr. Speaker, calls from Behchoko to the RCMP are routed to Yellowknife detachment after regular hours with no person there speaking the Tlicho language. In...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when the opportunity arises in a partnership, we are always happy to join forces with departments or the Ministers. On this particular issue, the community would like to see some results, whether it be this year or next year, but the sooner the better. So I would like to ask the Minister if he’s willing to make a commitment in this House, whether this will be part of the business plan cycle for 2007 to implement for next year. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, my previous statement, I would like to ask the Justice Minister a question. When we call the RCMP station, they forward the information to Yellowknife. (Translation ends)

…Member’s statement, the community of Behchoko has serious concerns about the safety of its Tlicho speaking residents who do not have the ability to access RCMP in their own language around the clock. Mr. Speaker, what is the Minister prepared to do to ensure our citizens have the ability to communicate with the RCMP around the clock in the Tlicho language? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation.

With the recent letter from the chairperson of the housing authority in Behchoko, I would like to request the following:

Has there been layoffs at the local housing authority in Behchoko since September until present? If there was, how many?

How many more layoffs are we expecting within the local housing authority in Behchoko?

With these proposed layoffs, are there any impacts on the local members living in the community, those that speak the Tlicho language? How many are impacted?

Was there any...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm glad to hear that there's a program that's forthcoming. At the same time, I'd like to ask the Minister if he's willing to work with his counterpart, the MACA Minister, Mr. McLeod, on specifically dealing with this particular issue, re-establishing the program. I realize there's program dollars that may be forthcoming from the federal counterparts that was highlighted earlier. But there again, can the Minister work with his colleague, Minister McLeod, on re-establishing the program to the community? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker…(English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, community bylaw officers have proven beneficial in the past in the community of Behchoko. These officers dealt with issues within our community, such as vandalism, littering and break and enters. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Justice tell me if there are any plans to re-establish the aboriginal community bylaw officers program in the communities? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided) Today I rise in the House to address the need for aboriginal bylaw or community officers in the community of Behchoko. Mr. Speaker, in 2004, the Department of Justice, in partnership with the federal government, had a two-year agreement in which 1.24 was given to the NWT as part of the Government of Canada/First Nation policing funding.

In Behchoko, we had two officers who were successful in training through this initiative in partnership with our government and the RCMP. These officers maintain a healthy relationship with our community members and...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to table a document on the literacy cuts that have impact in the community. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I'm glad to hear from the Minister that he's willing to work with his colleague. I guess my next question would be how soon can we expect the Ministers to come out to the community? Mr. Speaker, the sooner the better. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the community of Behchoko in the past has trained a couple members from the community of Behchoko. I do believe it was under the Special Constable Program through MACA, Municipal and Community Affairs, but it was in partnership with the RCMP, as well, under the RCMP guidance. It was a very successful program, but, unfortunately, the funding was cut. So I guess my question to either Justice or MACA, would the Minister direct the RCMP and the Tlicho leadership in Behchoko to create a partnership that will sustain or reinstate the Aboriginal Policing Program...