Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Today’s statement will be on elders. We have elders who work in the school sometimes. We have difficulty paying them. (Translation ends)

…consider a leader in maintaining and enhancing aboriginal language, culture and traditions. This wouldn’t be possible without our elders; our Ph.D.’s when it comes to traditional knowledge and on-the-land programs, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, lately with the introduction of FMBS system to the Community Services Agency it has become more difficult to issue elder’s pay for their casual work; pay that they deserve for their valuable contribution to the society. The TCSA used to have a system prior to August 4th, the effective date of the Tlicho Agreement, which allowed elders’ pay to be issued within a day of their service, Mr. Speaker. Now elders have to wait up to six weeks to receive their paycheques and this is not acceptable, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to draw attention to this House to a clause within the Intergovernmental Services Agreement that addresses operating condition of the TCSA that was signed by Tlicho, GNWT and Government of Canada. The section 3.2(a) of the ISA states, territorial legislation shall settle the roles listed for the agency in appendices and any other powers, responsibilities and accountabilities of the agency, except, Mr. Speaker, those assigned or delegated to the agency by the Tlicho Government or the Government of Canada. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, this agreement makes it clear that the Tlicho Government wishes the TCSA to hire their own traditional elders for cultural enhancement and also development. The GNWT must respect the terms and conditions the Tlicho Government wishes to set.

The GNWT should not be imposing its own responsibilities and accountabilities on the TCSA for programs assigned by the Tlicho Government. In this case, the Tlicho Government wishes to hire their own elders, pay them immediately after the completion of services. The GNWT needs to work with the TCSA to make it possible for them to make immediate payments to elders. It is not acceptable to force elders to wait six weeks, Mr. Speaker, to receive their pay for well-respected services.

Mr. Speaker, we’re losing elders as we speak in the schools. So I will have questions for the FMBS Minister at the appropriate time. Mahsi.

---Applause