Jackson Lafferty

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

Mr. Speaker, I understand the fiscal circumstance of the GNWT, what we’re faced with today. The GNWT has to stop using these circumstances, Mr. Speaker, as an excuse for not taking care of future generations. When it comes to these issues, there’s always the money and the program dollars where there’s a shortage. So, Mr. Speaker, if youth are a priority for this government, can the Minister commit to finding money within, or from the federal government, for the operation of youth centres in Behchoko and in other smaller communities for...

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

Mr. Speaker, we need to support our youth who face many challenges today. We need to help them to live up to their expectation that we have for them. We need to give youth positive experience that can make them our future leaders. Youth centres with meaningful activities and programs will be an important step towards that support.

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Youth. The Minister recognizes that there is a problem that there is only money to build youth centres and no money to run or operate the centres...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to continue a discussion that we have had in this House before. The issue of funding for youth centres in smaller communities is a growing concern.

We all know the issues before us. Youth in the NWT face many challenges. They are torn between modern and traditional way of life. They are expected to succeed in school, at work, and become our future leaders. We also know that the mental, emotional and physical health of many NWT youth is poor, Mr. Speaker. We agree that we have to promote youth involvement in positive...

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

Mr. Speaker, I’ve outlined in my Member’s statement that prevention is less costly than healing. Prevention also creates healthier communities and committed community members, eventually becoming the community leaders. At this point, Mr. Speaker, has the Minister made his point to the social envelop colleagues who are well aware of the cost of justice, health treatment programs, when we don’t take steps to prevent youth crimes or encourage healthy lifestyle choices who could be faced with more major issues and problems in the communities...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, there is no youth centre in operation in my riding. There is a building, but there is no funding for the operation of the youth centre. Behchoko needs a youth centre with meaningful activities to engage our youth. It will be wise for this government to invest in these young people now. Funding for operation of the youth centre is cheaper than picking up the cost for when kids have gotten into trouble, Mr. Speaker. This is not only a question of money, it is a question of healthy choice to support our youth who...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s great to hear that the community of Wekweeti has been looked after in the capital plans and that a portion of the dump will be moved and is still in the work plan.

Gameti, yes, it’s true, the SAO recently resigned, but I must remind the Minister that a new SAO has been hired and I would like to get a commitment from the Minister that the department can go into the community and analyze the situation. Mr. Speaker, finding suitable equipment in the community has always been a problem. I am glad the Minister of MACA is identifying the problem, but that’s...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do accept the Member travelling to my community. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, we are talking about two different issues. Of course, there is the power outage and the backup generator for the seniors’ home in Behchoko. The backup generator is badly needed in the community. Even though the power has revived now, anything could happen with the power. I would like to ask the Minister again, if he happens to visit the community, sit down with the community and identify the need for a backup generator, can he commit to this House that there will be an...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we talk about the value of our elders and the respect for our elders. I would like to ask the Minister, for the benefit of the elders and their families, why does it make more sense to put the health and lives of frail elders at risk by forcing them to travel to Yellowknife, away from their families and their communities in minus 45 degree temperatures, than to install a simple backup generator in the seniors’ home facility? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Today I’d like to ask about the elders regarding housing. Sometimes when there’s a power outage, it’s hard for them to restart their furnace. (Translation ends)

…backup generator for Jimmy Erasmus Seniors' Home in Behchoko last February following a long period of power outages, which created an emergency in the community. The Minister has now had over three months to look into this matter or issue with the community and the staff. I would like to ask the Minister responsible of the Housing Corporation, is he now prepared to have a backup generator...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement today is very important. There's a lot of graduates in our territory today and as leaders and elders, we have a high school. They want a better school in our community. (Translation ends)

…of the Tlicho high school as outlined in my Member's statement the other day in this House. I think it is time that this government refocuses capital planning initiatives into the NWT and Canada that is ready to take on any major development initiatives that comes its way.

Mr. Speaker, it is apparent that a new facility for Aurora...