Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us whether the plan is still to replace the facility in five years? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak on something very important. It is a seniors’ home. I want to say a few words regarding that. I had mentioned this issue many times in the past. We are talking about the old folks' home in Behchoko. It’s been in existence for over 20 years and we want that facility to be replaced. So I will question the Minister regarding this later. I have mentioned this concern many times. Many past leaders have mentioned this before. So today I want to ask that same question again. (Translation ends)

…on the most important...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I move we report progress. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chairman, this is information that was requested a while back, two days ago. Now we are scrambling around, like everybody else is saying. I think it’s critical that we get advanced information. We wouldn’t be going through what we are going through now, waiting. We are asking questions here and nothing has been provided at this time. Some Ministers are getting information as we speak. This was a major decision you are making here. Whether it be $100,000 or $200,000, that is a lot of money that could also go to communities. Without backup documentation, it’s hard for...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Many of the presenters were either concerned about or have themselves been subjected to elder abuse.  In small communities, they could not see how the SCAN legislation would help an elder being taken advantage of by a relative or being kept awake and harassed by neighbours partying and drinking all night, without there being repercussions for the elder who reported the activity.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just leading on to the business planning process, can the Minister tell this Assembly whether the Housing Corporation will have funding for design and consultation for a new facility in the year 2008-2009 business plan? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker…(Translation)…in my Member’s statement, I would like to ask those questions regarding the senior home. I would like to ask the Minister the question. He did state that after five years, this facility may be replaced. I would like to ask him the question. (Translation ends)

In my Member’s statement today, I spoke of the need for short-term repairs and alternate replacement of the Jimmy Erasmus Seniors’ Centre in Behchoko. The Minister has stated that an initial plan was to do the necessary repairs to have the present facility last for the five years it would...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with this proposed winter road realignment and all-weather road in our jurisdiction, it would be much cheaper and also a shorter distance to travel to the mine site from the south. As you can see in this diagram, it clearly shows, from the department, that that’s the best avenue to go, the Tlicho connecting the communities onto the mine site. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister, can the Minister tell me if the Department of Transportation will be asking for money towards this initiative in the next business plan, for the Tlicho road connecting through...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in August of 2007, there was an advertisement in a native journal. The Kitikmeot Corporation wants to build a port, a road to Bathurst Inlet. The port will be capable of handling 25,000 tons of ice class vessels. A 211 kilometre all-weather road is south of some of the richest minerals in the territory and Canada. Nunavut is moving forward, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it is time that we did something positive in our jurisdiction here in the Northwest Territories. There are three diamond mines in our backyard. We currently have jurisdiction over them....

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight reviewed Bill 10 at a meeting on June 8, 2007. Following the clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report Bill 10 to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s comments on Bill 10. Individual Members may have comments or questions as we proceed. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.