Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am proud to have with me today in the gallery my three children, Keone, Diedra, and Candace. I would also like to recognize two former residents of Fort Simpson: Terry and Anita Villeneuve. Mahsi cho.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS there are vacancies on standing committees due to the election of the honourable Member for Hay River North to the Speaker’s position;

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to fill these vacancies;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the Legislative Assembly approves the appointment of the Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe, to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, to the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development, and to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, June 4th, 2004 I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the Legislative Assembly approves the appointment of the Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe, to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, to the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development, and to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me one final question probably before the House adjourns for the summer. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services, with regard to addressing our special needs and those with developmental disabilities that are currently taken care of down south. Can the Minister provide me with some assurances about what steps we as a government can take in the long-term to address developing our own capacities for taking care of our own? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I was just wondering if the Minister will be able to give some level of support for aboriginal language professionals through a dedicated program of bursaries, similar to what has been offered for aboriginal law students. Mahsi cho.

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education. Yesterday the Minister announced a new program to encourage aboriginal students to study law. If the Minister understands that direct support through bursaries and other means will promote the study of law and encourage long-term commitment to the North on the part of law students, does he not think the same kind of support specifically dedicated to the study of aboriginal languages for aboriginal language professionals will accomplish similar ends?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, thank you for this opportunity. I would just like to wish my colleagues well as we recess for the summer months and do our constituency business. I wish them all safe travels.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday in the House, I questioned the Minister of Education about our government’s apparent lack of support for aboriginal language professionals within the education system. Specifically I asked the Minister why the government was not offering programs or bursaries to promote the study of aboriginal languages. I made the point that if the government truly wanted to...

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. This will probably be my final question. It is just that I am glad the Minister is aware of our need to take care of our own. What direction is the Minister leaning towards of developing our own people? I am sure we have the facilities, but what can be done to develop our people in terms of how we can take care of our own, in terms of the special training, the special services that surround the provision of care by our people with development disabilities down south? Can we truly have those facilities and the people here to take care of our own in the...

Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. In our newly released strategic plan, the government says it will implement school programs to support culture and language. I'm just wondering how the Minister of Education plans to accomplish this goal. Specifically, who will teach these programs? Mahsi cho.