Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) My previous statement regarding payment to elders, I would like to ask a question. Can they make some kind of arrangement with community services with the new government? There is a lot of concern regarding this from the elders. (Translation ends)

…trip worth for many years negotiating an agreement because they knew that it was self-government. We could do a better job of serving our people than the GNWT or DIAND. We did not go to all this trouble only to have GNWT bureaucracy imposed on us. This is a question to the Minister of the Financial Management...

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. (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.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is disheartening to hear that there is not much interest from the general public on the interpretation program that’s been offered through Aurora College. We certainly need these professions that can interpret medical and judicial terminology in the communities that we face everyday, whether it’s a health centre or community justice. So, Mr. Speaker, I guess my question to the Minister is, isn’t it the department’s mandate to focus on delivering such important services such as interpretation and translating courses, along with Aurora College? I am sure...