Kevin A. Menicoche

Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. My question is for the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, as well as the Premier. In the face of rapidly rising fuel prices, does the government have any plans to alleviate the unfair and disproportionate burden being placed on NWT residents who live in smaller communities where electricity is supplied by diesel generators? Thank you.

I move that we report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps the Minister could clarify for me again that the government does provide bursaries and scholarships to encourage more aboriginal language professionals with teaching skills and just to develop the capacities that I know are lacking in the regions and the communities. If the Minister can provide that answer for me. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, mahsi cho. My questions are directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Given that the government's strategic plan calls for implementation of school programs that support indigenous language and culture, does the government's strategic plan include measures for the training and professional development of qualified aboriginal language instructors to teach these school programs?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just one further point on that is I was saying language and culture are very important to our government. Is the department looking at providing incentives and bursaries or a new initiative to reach out to our teachers to say, look, this is important to us, here are additional bursaries and scholarships that are available to you, rather that to just access the current pool but to create a larger pool of aboriginal language instructors for the North and our students? Mahsi cho.

Mr. Speaker, does the government and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment have plans to provide bursaries and scholarships to encourage teachers to develop aboriginal language teaching skills at the college level?

Mr. Speaker, I wish to speak this morning on an issue of aboriginal language and culture. I see that the government’s newly released strategic plan calls for NWT indigenous cultures and languages that are a source of strength for present and future generations. Certainly this is a laudable goal that we hope will be achieved. The plans state further that this goal will be accomplished by implementing school programs to support culture, language and partnership with families and communities. I am concerned, Mr. Speaker, what the strategic plan means in terms of concrete action by the government...

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

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak to you about a growing problem with housing in our communities in the Nahendeh riding, and that's the mould problem. Recently I have been contacted by a number of my constituents who are suffering from the presence of mould in their homes, especially in the communities of Fort Simpson and Fort Liard. This is not just a northern issue; it is currently recognized as a national problem. The report on the issue is expected to be released by the federal government in July.

Mr. Speaker, mould is primarily a...

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight is pleased to report on its review of Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Payroll Tax Act, 1993 and the Income Tax Act.

Committee Report 5-15(3) is a matter of record, Madam Chair, however Members of the standing committee may have additional comments on Bill 6 as we proceed here in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.

Given that the problem with mould in houses is, in some cases, attributable to homes being constructed during off season in wet conditions, does the government have guidelines or schedules in place for contractors to follow to prevent the problem from occurring?