Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my final question to the Minister is, I am just wondering if the Minister can meet with the Tlicho Community Services Agency and come up with a possible solution to this whole ordeal, possibly setting up a petty cash agreement where we hire elders on an as-needed basis so we have petty cash on hand. We hire elders at times here and there for cultural events. So I am just wondering if the Minister can meet with the Tlicho Community Services Agency and set up a system where we can pay elders possibly out of a petty cash fund that could be available to them....

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in my previous Member’s statement, the Tlicho Community Services Agency is in a unique position. We are a new government since August 4th of last year. So we are different from any organizations here in the North and also throughout Canada. My next question leads on to…Can the Minister please clarify how he can continue to impose four to six-week delays on payments to the elders from the Tlicho Community Services Agency despite the clear wishes of the Tlicho Government that is consistent with the spirit and the letter of the Tlicho Agreement...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Today’s statement will be on elders. We have elders who work in the school sometimes. We have difficulty paying them. (Translation ends)

…consider a leader in maintaining and enhancing aboriginal language, culture and traditions. This wouldn’t be possible without our elders; our Ph.D.’s when it comes to traditional knowledge and on-the-land programs, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, lately with the introduction of FMBS system to the Community Services Agency it has become more difficult to issue elder’s pay for their casual work; pay that they deserve for their...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my final question to the Minister is, I am just wondering if the Minister can meet with the Tlicho Community Services Agency and come up with a possible solution to this whole ordeal, possibly setting up a petty cash agreement where we hire elders on an as-needed basis so we have petty cash on hand. We hire elders at times here and there for cultural events. So I am just wondering if the Minister can meet with the Tlicho Community Services Agency and set up a system where we can pay elders possibly out of a petty cash fund that could be available to them....

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in my previous Member’s statement, the Tlicho Community Services Agency is in a unique position. We are a new government since August 4th of last year. So we are different from any organizations here in the North and also throughout Canada. My next question leads on to…Can the Minister please clarify how he can continue to impose four to six-week delays on payments to the elders from the Tlicho Community Services Agency despite the clear wishes of the Tlicho Government that is consistent with the spirit and the letter of the Tlicho Agreement...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Today’s statement will be on elders. We have elders who work in the school sometimes. We have difficulty paying them. (Translation ends)

…consider a leader in maintaining and enhancing aboriginal language, culture and traditions. This wouldn’t be possible without our elders; our Ph.D.’s when it comes to traditional knowledge and on-the-land programs, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, lately with the introduction of FMBS system to the Community Services Agency it has become more difficult to issue elder’s pay for their casual work; pay that they deserve for their...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am just wondering if the Minister or his department has looked into a contractual basis where they hire an elder on an as-needed basis and they can be paid within the next few days, as opposed to waiting four to six weeks. Can the Minister advise this House if they have looked at the option? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, (Translation) I have a question regarding interpreting and translating services. Today we look at the Northwest Territories, we’re having difficulties getting interpreters. Sometimes although we do have one interpreter here, there may be one here too, but they are very busy. We have young people that are in school. They are thinking of getting into this career. (Translation ends)

…importance of interpretation services here in the North, especially in this Assembly. We’re at a critical point where the GNWT must consider re-establishing in-house interpretation and...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to comment on one subject. We had a celebration last week. There was approximately 12 graduated students last week. It’s the school of Chief Jimmy Bruneau School. Every year we’re having more and more success in graduating, which we are very proud of. Next week there will be a graduation of four students in Whati. (Translation ends)

…a very important event that just occurred last week. The Tlicho Nation celebrated a 13th high school graduation since Grade 12 became available within the region. It was certainly a huge day for...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Just a final supplementary on the ALCIP program. I am fully aware of that. I very much appreciate that program being delivered in the Tlicho region. At the same time, I would like to ask the Minister when can the department sit down with the Tlicho Community Services Agency and highlight if there is a need for such important courses to be delivered in the communities? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.