Tom Beaulieu

Many of my constituents speak aboriginal languages and aboriginal languages are their first language. They’re not familiar with some of the legal and technical terminology, even things like inspections, applications, leases. My question is, can the Minister tell me what extra efforts, if any, the NWT Housing Corporation staff do to address that very important component of the client relations?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move to report progress.

---Carried

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, too, would like to just add a little bit to what Mr. Krutko is saying. In addition to all of the aspects that Mr. Krutko spoke of, also for the way the government is moving, in essence devolving a lot of the municipal responsibilities through the new plan to the municipalities, this is a major step towards increasing what I’d call market value of the community. I think anybody is aware that if you have a paved street in front of your property, your property is worth a lot more. I think this is a step in the direction where we will be increasing actual property...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have a couple of questions on 11-21 for the Minister. My assumption is that contract services is what they use to contract the highway contractors that maintain the various highways. How much of the 2,200 kilometres of all-season highway is done by contract as opposed to directly from DOT staff?

I guess I think that‘s the only communications or transportation link into Lutselk’e. They don’t get a winter road or all-season road. They get in materials and other things by barge once a year or twice a year, depending on what they’re bringing into Lutselk’e. Airports are very important. They get two or three flights a day into Lutselk’e. I think if we’re going to try to get communities to be on their own as much as possible in the future where we’re trying to increase the market viability of communities, I think it’s essential that the department look at the only real transportation link...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee wishes to proceed with, continue with the main estimates review of Transportation and then to Tabled Document 17-16(3), Supplementary Appropriation No. 3, 2008-2009, and if there is any time left after that, we would like to get into Municipal and Community Affairs. Thank you.

Maybe that’s supported lease. I think an orientation program is very important when clients are signing documents. I know of a case recently where an elder did not sign documents and at the end of the day that person was one signature away from the family owning a house because the elder passed away without signing the document. However, my question for the Minister is when signing documents -- this is now just if the individuals get approval -- is there a guarantee that the individuals understand? Is there any way that the corporation guarantees that individuals understand what they’re...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to ask some questions to the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. This time of the year the NWT Housing Corporation has application deadlines for homeownership programs. Depending on which community, these deadlines may vary. In many cases residents are not fully aware of the deadlines. My question is in regard to a communication strategy. Can the Minister tell this House if the Housing Corporation has a communications strategy for its homeownership program in the application phase?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as indicated in the Minister of Education’s Minister’s statement, aboriginal language…March is Aboriginal Language Month. I am going to…I can’t read the language, Chipewyan language. I am trying to learn. Hopefully that will be a goal of mine, to try to be able to read the aboriginal language next March.

---Applause

So right now what I am doing is a difficult task that we ask the translators to do. I have a Member’s statement written in English and I am going to try to translate it into Chipewyan. [English translation not provided]

Mr. Speaker, I seek...