Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, throughout the session, I have been speaking mostly about one issue, which is our Dene languages and culture. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to highlight some things that are going to be happening in Behchoko.

During their meeting, they are going to have a hand game tournament. The tournament will be happening this weekend and people from all communities, from Behchoko, Whati, Tulita, Gameti, Wekweeti, Deline, Lutselk’e and also from Meander River communities will be coming to Behchoko to try out in this tournament. Sometimes some of the teams...

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to talk about Highway No. 3. That is my statement today. Improvements on Highway No. 3. We are thankful these improvements will be done soon because we always use this highway, which is important to us. This highway that is there, there is a lot of people who live along the highway. Sometimes some of these elders and people live along the highway, but since the highway was created, some of them are experiencing hardship because their cabins are a ways from the highway. I am talking about the access road. I am talking about the Department of...

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank him for agreeing to sit with us and discuss this. This issue is important to the people who live along the highway because the traditional lifestyle is very important that we are trying to maintain. I thank him again for agreeing to sit with us. We will have discussions with the Tlicho Government and also the federal government. So the sooner the better that we have this meeting. Maybe as soon as this budget session is over, we can arrange a meeting. So the Tlicho Government is also awaiting our decision here regarding that. Maybe we can set...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) As I said in my Member's statement, we have people living along the highway. There are cabins along the highway. A lot of our elders are practising their traditional lifestyle, and I'd like to ask the Minister a question. Will his department, the staff in Fort Rae, would they be able to plough the access roads to these people's cabins at least once or twice a month? That is my question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank him for his answer. We always talk about cooperation and working together. We had a meeting in Rae and we talked about how we can all work together as governments. As he has mentioned, he is saying that it is out of his mandate and he's talking like this is not the mandate of the government. But if you look at it, the government, all the communities are our government. It's very difficult if there's no access road to these cabins, so I'd like to ask the Minister a question. Is he willing to work with us? Whose mandate is it to...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. As this is one of the top priorities for the communities, I just have a final question for the Minister. Can the Minister assure this Assembly that the ALCIP program will hold the same kind of validity as any other teaching program, and given its place in the only post-secondary institution at Aurora College, as well as proper accreditation recognizing its importance to the education of our future generations? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the ALCIP program is funded with official language money provided by the federal government. Is the Minister willing to truly make the aboriginal language and culture its priority and commit to manage this money? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is great to hear that there will be an increase in the ECE funding for the budget address. I have not heard of enhancing aboriginal language or culture programs, but, at the same time, I am also looking forward to seeing this in the budget in detail.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to highlight as one of the key areas I would like to focus on. Mr. Speaker, ECE has identified language and cultural-based education as their highest priority. The Aboriginal Language and Cultural Instructors Program, called LCIP, I am happy to note, is currently under...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister highlighted the new curriculum for the program, so I’d like to ask the Minister about the ALCIP programs being administered through various school boards; a difficult task, considering their mandate lies elsewhere. Can the Minister tell this Assembly what the college’s responsibility will be in the delivery of the new and revised ALCIP program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement earlier, I spoke about the government making aboriginal languages its priority. I commended the ECE on its effort to revive the ALCIP program. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, though, what kind of commitment has been made to fund and support this essential program? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.