Kevin A. Menicoche

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of Justice. In my riding in the community of Fort Simpson, it was brought to my attention that the court worker position has not been filled for quite some time and what they typically would do is they would bring in another member from a community like Hay River. Recently, they haven’t even been doing that, so my question to the Minister of Justice is when will they be looking at filling the court worker position in Fort Simpson to address the justice needs of Fort Simpson?

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.

Mr. Speaker, I did have an opportunity to look at our collective agreement with respect to further training by our teachers, and what's in there is that teachers do get application for education leave but they have to do it with reduced pay, at 60 percent of their salary level. I don't believe that that does enough to encourage our professionals to continue furthering their skills in language development. I would just like to ask the Minister how can we further encourage our aboriginal language professionals to look at further training? Mahsi cho.

Mr. Speaker, this is important enough for me to bring up because what happens is that when an aboriginal language instructor is unable to make it to work, the class is generally cancelled for lack of qualified substitutes. I will bring this up in questions to the Minister responsible at the appropriate time. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

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.