Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends the Minister responsible for the Workers’ Compensation Board ensure the Governance Council and Workers’ Compensation Board administration complete a draft communications protocol and an action plan to address the Auditor General’s recommendation and forward these to the Accountability and Oversight committee by the end of 2006. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight is pleased to present its second report on pre-budget consultations.

The committee held hearings in Aklavik, Fort Liard, Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Katlodeeche First Nation, Sachs Harbour, Wekweeti and Yellowknife between August 17th and September 5, 2006. Following the initial Yellowknife hearings, the committee members split into northern NWT and southern NWT groups in order to visit as many communities as possible within the time available.

The committee recognizes that the timing of the consultations in late summer made it difficult...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Just focussing on the expansion of the department’s vision and focus, would the Minister consider instructing the Aurora College to deliver a full-time ALCIP program in Behchoko as well as all communities in the North so that these communities can offer aboriginal language programming as set out by our own directive? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement today, I spoke of a need to fund a full-time Aboriginal Language and Culture Instructor Program so that those people that were interested in pursuing this as a career will be able to access the Student Financial Assistance Program. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, can the Minister inform this Assembly of the department’s plan to offer a full- time ALCIP program through Aurora College? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd just like to touch on my earlier Member’s statement about the transfer of the North Slave office staff to Behchoko. Mr. Speaker, this government is contradicting itself when it recognizes the Tlicho Government but it does not have the regional offices with decision-making powers in the Tlicho region. Mr. Speaker, it’s time this government sees these decision-makers to be in the communities. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier. Can the Premier explain how over a year this government continues to ignore the self-government of the Tlicho by refusing to...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker and colleagues. Mr. Speaker, requests forwarded to headquarters go through multiple levels of bureaucracy. Their message may change in this process. They are either delayed or sometimes lost in the system. This is not necessary and causes undue hardship, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this government should give the Tlicho region with Behchoko the same acknowledgment that it did with the Sahtu and the transfer of North Slave regional office function serving the Tlicho from Yellowknife to Behchoko.

As the Government of the Northwest Territories chooses to represent the Tlicho...

Mr. Chair, I move to report progress.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's been an issue of the gravel road to the community of Behchoko and there was a huge concern and safety issue for the departments, I guess the executive or the senior staff to be in Behchoko, to be allocated. Anyway, I would like to ask the Premier, because that's not an excuse anymore, but if he's willing to work with us, that's good, I appreciate that. Can the Premier make a commitment in this House to add these changes, whether it be capital plans '07 or business planning, to transfer these North Slave staff to Behchoko as a regional headquarter for...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m glad the department will certainly look into this matter. It’s very important to us in the Tlicho riding. We know the services for the region are not appropriate as long as they are delivered at headquarters in Yellowknife. It makes a difference having all the GNWT departments including the Executive represented locally by senior managers. So, Mr. Speaker, my question again to the Premier is how he will ensure that GNWT services for the Tlicho region allow for the building of relationships between the GNWT and the Tlicho Government and for the GNWT staff to...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at this time I’d like to recognize one of my chiefs, Chief Charlie Football from Wekweeti is in the audience.

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Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize the two Pages I have here from my region, Carrcie Mantla and also Tyanna Steinwand. It is their last day today. I hope they enjoyed it. Thank you.

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