This is page numbers 943 - 976 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

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Supplementary To Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 951

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Mr. Speaker, I understood from the Premier, who is responsible for official languages, in her responses to my questions last week, that this program would be transferred to Arctic College. Now the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment is telling me there is no particular plan to transfer this program to Arctic College. Is this program now deceased, dead, gone, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 951

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 951

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

No, Mr. Speaker. I believe that what is occurring is an indication that there is obvious support for clear responsibility on the part of community and education board, Aurora College and Nunavut Arctic College.

The other component that one must recognize is that in the case of Inuktitut it is generally my view that the responsibility for the training of Inuktitut translators should rest with the institution for which that language is better served. In other words, Nunavut Arctic College would be the best agent for the delivery of that training program.

It would be no different in the case of Aurora College; for instance, Fort Smith, at the moment, is involved in teacher education that deals with language education. The campuses that are involved, whether it is in Yellowknife that delivers Dogrib interpreter training or whether it is in the Gwich'in area or the Inuvialuit, the fact is that there are presently organizations or institutions that are available to us that can better deliver the program. I want to assure the honourable Member that it is certainly not our intention to gut the program, but to improve the ability of this government to deliver or streamline the approach to the delivery of training for our interpreters/translators.

Further Return To Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 951

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 951

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

I understand from the Minister's answer, Mr. Speaker, that there is no particular plan, however, there is "an indication." Mr. Speaker, the Minister may know that many of the important vital functions of the legal interpreters program is to refine, define and improve the translation of legal terminology in aboriginal languages. The Minister, in his response, is talking about training legal interpreters. Will the Arctic College also be responsible for the refining, defining and developing of legal terminology? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 951

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 951

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, I want to advise the honourable Member that we are as concerned on this side of the House as the honourable Member is with regard to the delivery of programs in aboriginal languages. What we are trying to address in one component of the work that has been done by Avery Cooper Management Consultants of Yellowknife is the issue of training. The honourable Member raises one other component and that is language development. Irrespective of who, in the end, is responsible, the fact is with the modernization of our aboriginal languages, whether it is Inuktitut, Gwich'in Dogrib or whatever, there is a need for those people who are involved in the languages area to be involved in the development of the language, whether they are educators, interpreter/translators or whether they are involved in the Inuit Cultural Institute, the Dene Cultural Institute, the Gwich'in Social and Culture Institute, et cetera. The development of the language has to be based on a holistic approach. It can't be integrated simply into categories. The issue is language development has to be approached in the context of those people who are using the language and those who speak it.

We are concerned about the issue. I appreciate the concern the Member has raised. The review and work we are doing collectively is not intended in any way to reduce the commitment to program delivery or service delivery, but rather to rationalize and improve the services that are offered. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 951

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Final supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 951

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I talked about this very important program well used by the courts, which is receiving growing demands, I mentioned that there is a 1-800 number that is available to legal interpreters to call if they are having difficulty, while they are interpreting in court, with legal terminology. I have just heard the Minister say there is no intention to reduce the commitment, the service delivery -- and I have heard the same thing from the Minister of Justice -- and I would like to ask the Minister if he will assure this House that the 1-800 number, which I am told is very valuable to interpreters who are working in court, that they can call for assistance if they are interpreting in court in another community, will be preserved when this program is transferred to Arctic College, which is what the Minister indicated would happen. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 951

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 951

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Personally, I can't make that commitment to the honourable Member because that responsibility still rests with the Minister of Justice. But I will take seriously the suggestion the Member has made and look at the value of the service that we are providing and ensure, in our discussions with our envelope group, that we recognize the value of the service and look at it in the context the Member has raised in this Assembly.

Further Return To Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Question 453-12(7): Delivery Of Legal Interpreting Program By Arctic College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 951

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ballantyne.

Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

April 10th, 1995

Page 952

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Mr. Speaker, my question would be to the Minister of Justice. My colleague, Mr. Dent, talked about a petition from the people of Yellowknife, 1,200 names, which is the largest petition in the history of Yellowknife. It is regarding the fear out there that there isn't adequate policing. Mr. Speaker, this issue has been on the floor of this House for a year and a half. We have asked many questions of the Minister, given him many suggestions of how he can deal with this problem and we are waiting with anticipation for him to tell us how he intends to deal with the problem in Yellowknife of inadequate policing.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 952

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, when the Department of Justice is allowed time to completely present its proposal and the budget, there will be some detail provided that will lend some relief to the question of RCMP presence in Yellowknife. Thank you.

Return To Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 952

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 952

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not exactly sure what the Minister means. There has been a request for a number of police officers. There have been suggestions to set up auxiliary police. There have been suggestions to augment Crime Stoppers. There have been suggestions for a program to support the police bureaucracy, so more police will be on the streets. Perhaps the Minister can tell us what questions will be answered and when.

Supplementary To Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 952

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 952

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, two things: one, there is a proposed increase to the amount of funding that we provide to the RCMP under the proposed 1995-96 O and M budget in the Department of Justice. If that is approved, then we will allow the RCMP to fill a number of vacancies that they are carrying at this time. We should see an increase in the number of RCMP officers who are assigned presently in the Northwest Territories. That will involve the city of Yellowknife.

The second point is the Members from Yellowknife asked about a month ago if I would be prepared to meet with them, so I could hear their creative and innovative ideas about how we can address the problem regarding the need for a safer society. I made the commitment that I would. I am waiting for a time and place, so we can get into further detail on the ideas the Members may want to bring to me.

Further Return To Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 952

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 952

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you. I don't know if the Minister has ever read the book "Waiting For Godot," but I was waiting also; waiting for the Minister to announce publicly what he is going to do. Once we saw exactly what we had to work with, I thought we would sit down with the mayor and the Yellowknife MLAs and decide imaginative ways to augment that. It seems that we both have been waiting. What aspect of this will be in the budget? There are studies being done by the RCMP themselves right now. When can we expect the results of those studies?

Supplementary To Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 952

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 952

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I thought the study was expected some time in June but I couldn't be dead certain about that. The Member from Yellowknife asked if I would be prepared to meet with Yellowknife Members to discuss a number of ways we can assist with policing here in the city. Some creative and innovative approaches were the words used at the time of the request. I agreed and am now waiting to be invited to a meeting they would call. I wasn't under the impression at all that I was asked for the meeting and I should call it. That's the unfortunate misunderstanding we had. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 952

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Question 454-12(7): Initiatives For Police Services In Yellowknife
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 952

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as long as the Minister understands that there is a very, very serious problem in Yellowknife, we understand that money is short. Together, we can come up with some imaginative solutions. I will ask the Minister if he would be available during the next couple of weeks to have that meeting and see if we can start on the road to a solution to a very serious problem.