Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we heard earlier that it takes a whole community to work together and see a productive outcome. What is the department doing to attract community members? We talk about attracting community members and training a workforce, whether it be on-the-job training. This is one of the important topics that has been ongoing in my region specifically. Has the department considered delivering this program in the communities, Mr. Speaker, as opposed to regional centres? As a matter of fact, we, as the Tlicho Community Services Agency, would love to work with the...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, (Translation) I have a question regarding interpreting and translating services. Today we look at the Northwest Territories, we’re having difficulties getting interpreters. Sometimes although we do have one interpreter here, there may be one here too, but they are very busy. We have young people that are in school. They are thinking of getting into this career. (Translation ends)

…importance of interpretation services here in the North, especially in this Assembly. We’re at a critical point where the GNWT must consider re-establishing in-house interpretation and...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to comment on one subject. We had a celebration last week. There was approximately 12 graduated students last week. It’s the school of Chief Jimmy Bruneau School. Every year we’re having more and more success in graduating, which we are very proud of. Next week there will be a graduation of four students in Whati. (Translation ends)

…a very important event that just occurred last week. The Tlicho Nation celebrated a 13th high school graduation since Grade 12 became available within the region. It was certainly a huge day for...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Just a final supplementary on the ALCIP program. I am fully aware of that. I very much appreciate that program being delivered in the Tlicho region. At the same time, I would like to ask the Minister when can the department sit down with the Tlicho Community Services Agency and highlight if there is a need for such important courses to be delivered in the communities? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is disheartening to hear that there is not much interest from the general public on the interpretation program that’s been offered through Aurora College. We certainly need these professions that can interpret medical and judicial terminology in the communities that we face everyday, whether it’s a health centre or community justice. So, Mr. Speaker, I guess my question to the Minister is, isn’t it the department’s mandate to focus on delivering such important services such as interpretation and translating courses, along with Aurora College? I am sure...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Today, I would like to recognize our leaders in the Tlicho region; our grand chief, George Mackenzie, and with him is James Rabesca. He is also with the Tlicho Government. I thank them very much for coming to listen to our meeting.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Just a final supplementary on the ALCIP program. I am fully aware of that. I very much appreciate that program being delivered in the Tlicho region. At the same time, I would like to ask the Minister when can the department sit down with the Tlicho Community Services Agency and highlight if there is a need for such important courses to be delivered in the communities? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is disheartening to hear that there is not much interest from the general public on the interpretation program that’s been offered through Aurora College. We certainly need these professions that can interpret medical and judicial terminology in the communities that we face everyday, whether it’s a health centre or community justice. So, Mr. Speaker, I guess my question to the Minister is, isn’t it the department’s mandate to focus on delivering such important services such as interpretation and translating courses, along with Aurora College? I am sure...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Today, I would like to recognize our leaders in the Tlicho region; our grand chief, George Mackenzie, and with him is James Rabesca. He is also with the Tlicho Government. I thank them very much for coming to listen to our meeting.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I think this motion we are talking about has been long outstanding, especially in the small, isolated communities where we heavily depend on elders’ knowledge and wisdom. We, as a territorial government, need to recognize that there are essential needs and services that are required to do the day-to-day activities in the communities. When we visited the communities throughout the pre-budget consultation process and also our Social Programs tour of the communities, we’ve heard over and over during our public consultation or on the side conversation where elders are sometimes...