Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Chair. Mr. Chair, I’m just, I guess for yesterday and today, just sitting back and observing what’s been said around the table. Talks about this Deh Cho building, we talk about the past the present and the future. We talk about the past where we should’ve, could’ve, would’ve. I think we really need to step backwards and say okay, let’s move forward. We need to decide what we’re going to do now, because I agree with what Members around the table are saying where they are badly, I guess, disappointed in the whole process where the AOC and the Regular Members weren’t consulted. I...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week the Minister stated that the Tlicho Community Services Agency gave advance notice of hiring elders when it’s required will make it easier within the system. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, on a daily basis we are faced with huge challenges of last minute changes, not only in my communities but in other small, isolated communities. We must respect what the elders' decisions are. Mr. Speaker, due to these unforeseen circumstances, can the Minister commit to amending the policy in the FMBS system that will respect and reflect the Tlicho Community Services...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, last week I asked a question to the Minister regarding payment to elders and how they are not getting paid as fast as they should because elders are very important and we want to be able to help them. (Translation ends)

Dogrib Treaty 11 Council has asked the Dogrib Community Services Board to operate a number of programs and projects on its behalf that were closely connected to the mandate of the board. These include the scholarship program, a variety of language and culture projects such as the birch bark canoe project, the caribou skin tent...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for outlining the possible alternatives, the contract basis for the hiring of elders, so the elders can be paid upon completion of their services. I am just wondering, Mr. Speaker, when can the Minister meet with his department and our Tlicho Community Services Agency to expedite this process? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask a question regarding elders. We won’t be here if it wasn’t for our elders. They are the ones who support what we are doing as a government. They really supported us when we were creating our government. These are some of the words of support that they gave us. When the elders give us advice, this is what’s in the Tlicho Agreement. (Translation ends)

This is the importance of the agreement signed by the GNWT in this day and age with various parties in the North. One particular such as Tlicho Intergovernmental Services...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for outlining the possible alternatives, the contract basis for the hiring of elders, so the elders can be paid upon completion of their services. I am just wondering, Mr. Speaker, when can the Minister meet with his department and our Tlicho Community Services Agency to expedite this process? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the Minister for that answer, because the department is reviewing the budget and he stated that there’s some insufficient funds going to the communities. Actually that’s true for Behchoko. Behchoko is also in need of bylaw officers. It has been an issue this past year with the break and entering. So I’d like to ask the Minister if during the business planning process if that can be identified for Behchoko and the three outlying communities, that it’s necessary to have bylaw officers in the community. Although it’s block funded, but if they could work with...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The bylaw officers in the communities are 19 bylaw officers. Mr. Speaker, when the Minister was a Regular Member sitting on our side in 2001, he was concerned about the same issue that I’m raising here today, Mr. Speaker. He encouraged the Department of MACA and Justice to work together to help communities with community enforcement. So I would like to ask the Minister if such initiatives exist today and what is the department doing with community governments to identify the community bylaw enforcement that’s needed in the communities? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize one of the CHO grads, Monique Laing, from Behchoko.

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Along with her, her children and husband. Mahsi.

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Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a letter here from Tlicho Grand Chief George Mackenzie on support of recognizing the value of elders’ knowledge. It is a motion that was passed. Mahsi.