Jackson Lafferty

Mr. Speaker, for those letters that we receive, it’s not only one letter; there are other letters that could be in the millions of dollars of requests for big projects. They are all important projects and we can’t pick one from one region versus another region. That’s why we have the language groups that deal with the funding that’s been allocated to them. So, Mr. Speaker, I will continue to work with the language groups.

Like I said, we are reviewing the overall structure of how we allocate funds. There is always room for improvement on how we can provide those services more effectively and...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we are clearly listening to the Member and I appreciate the persistence that he’s been pushing forward. We are seriously going to consider this school for next year’s budget planning cycle. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

Surely I can share the information that we have within North Slave Correctional Centre on the number of positions, the percentage and whatnot. But I did meet with the MLA and the individual that he’s referring to and I would encourage the individual to continue applying, because now we’re having seven positions that are currently open for transfer. Fifty-seven percent, or four positions, will be for aboriginal people. There is a great opportunity there to be identified. Those individuals who are interested need to work with our system as well. Either take the day shift and night shift combined...

Mr. Chair, those are the avenues that we need to work. Not only that, but the federal government, we’ve invited two federal Ministers to come before us, because they need to realize that this is an important factor. So we’re hoping that there will be some commitment. We are getting some funds from them at this point in time, but the funding will be increased, of course. But we will continue to pressure them. Mahsi.

It consists of Education, Culture and Employment, the education council, the teaching and learning centres, the aboriginal groups we sponsor. The funding that has been allocated to them, yes, there may be some lapse due to the deadline constraints and projects may not be completed. So it does vary, Mr. Speaker, on a case-by-case basis. Clearly, those are areas that I instructed my department to review the overall funding allocations for aboriginal language from a cultural perspective, because we need to maximize the funding we produce to the Northwest Territories to the best of their ability...

We can certainly look at that. We are, through discussions with the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, it does cover in that respect as well. We also talked about K to 12 members talking in the area of greater extension into the communities. Some are working, some are not working, but I think that needs to be identified through the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative that is currently in discussion right now and devolving in a package by this year. That would certainly capture that. There are other issues or opportunities before us, so, Mr. Chairman, this will certainly be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this particular area is a personnel issue. At the same time, we can be generic about whether it be the 17 years, aboriginal employee within corrections. Mr. Speaker, there has been some progress in play with certain individuals within the system where individuals may work night shifts and they get an opportunity or are offered an opportunity to work day shift, so they can expand their role in day and night shifts. At times, there is some reluctance for various reasons and due to the fact that the warden and associate warden try to deal with this matter and...

Clearly it is a priority for our department to follow through with all recommendations that are brought forward. Even though we have responded to some of the recommendations in the fall, we want to have a comprehensive package plan of action after the Language Symposium that we are going to be having in March, the end of March. So once that takes effect, then the plan should be available for presentation to the standing committee at that time. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Member referred to our statements in the House. They are important statements. Having an organization, whether they be NGOs or territorial government organizations, promoting more sporting programs, whether it be Arctic Winter Games trials or Canada Games trials, Winter Games trials, we fully support students participating in those events, Mr. Speaker. At the same time, we are not ignoring the fact that they are missing school or being absent from school on a number of occasions but they go with their homework. They go with their guidelines of what needs to be done...

Mr. Speaker, I totally agree that we must meet all the students’ educational standards across the Northwest Territories. In fact, our main targets should be far-reaching to try and be ahead of the other jurisdictions such as the southern jurisdictions. We are developing the plans and implementing those areas and we will continue to improve in those areas.