Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. So what the department is saying, the Minister is saying, is no, we're not going to support our elders to continue their way of life. Mr. Speaker, we are talking about people who lived along the highway before the department changed its route, even before this department existed. Mr. Speaker, can we come to a consensus on which cabins and homes might be considered for nominal access roads in respect to their traditional usage, like a grandfather clause? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before the new highway was built, it was a public highway and we accessed those cabins by the old highway. Now we're saying no to these traditional trappers and hunters. We, as GNWT, have always stressed to retain and maintain our way of life. By importance of highlighting that in this House, on numerous occasions I have raised that issue. With that, Mr. Speaker, when I asked the Minister last fall, I do believe it was, that he was referring to opening up to other camp owners. At the same time, we're not talking about just plain old squatters. We're...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, for many years, Tlicho families have lived, and hunted, and trapped along the shores of Great Slave Lake. Many of these traditional camps were built near Highway No. 3 because it allowed families to maintain their traditional lifestyle while living in the town of Behchoko for part of the year. Still others maintained their traditional culture year round. When the Department of Transportation changed the structure of Highway No. 3, many traditional camps and homes were affected, Mr. Speaker. In the past, last fall, I raised that issue...

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee wishes to consider Bill 4, Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation Act; Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act; and Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am glad the Minister is taking up the offer. I am looking forward to that. Mr. Speaker, my next leading question is, when we identify a contractor in a community prior to 2005, there might have been a case at that time, but today, if you approach a community and say would you like us to clear your roads, they would be more than happy to take on the opportunity. Is the Minister willing to invest from his department to identify a contractor, whether it be DOT or in the community, to clear the access roads to the traditional cabins? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, policy is policy; it can be amended any time. The Minister has the responsibility to make changes to respect the traditional way of life. So I'd like to ask my final question to the Minister. Would the Minister be willing to meet with the leadership in Behchoko to find a solution for this ongoing issue that has been on the books for a number of years? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the committee wishes to consider Bill 8, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2007-2008. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Just to conclude my question for the Minister, I would like to focus on the next step. Can the Minister commit to providing resources necessary to deal with these community-based strategies? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the statistics show that 36 percent of the overall population and 53 percent of people aged 15 to 24 consume more than five drinks per day, Mr. Speaker. These stats are compounded when we include those dealing with suicides, accidental deaths, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, education and employment. Obviously, what we are doing is not working. Has a review been done in each community to look at the success rates of the aftercare programs currently in place? Mahsi.

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, we have Peter Huskey of Behchoko. He’s in the gallery to listen. I thank him for attending. Mahsi.

---Applause