This is page numbers 1525 - 1578 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 language.

Topics

Further Return To Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1534

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just for the information of the Member again, there are departments in which terminologists are located. There has been no indication on my part or the government's to remove the development of terminology for aboriginal languages. The suggestion being made is that, somehow, the responsibility is going to rest with the existing interpreter/translators. But there has to be a working relationship developed between the terminologists and the interpreter/translators. If there is no relationship between the people involved in translating in the communities and another group is developing terminology of which they have no knowledge, then what is the purpose of developing new terminology? It is clear that needs to be done, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1534

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you. I have a question, again, for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. The question is, who will be responsible for the legal and medical terminology development in Cree, since the Language Bureau does not employ any Cree interpreter/translators? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1534

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1534

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you. It's a new question, but nonetheless, I would like to indicate to the honourable Member that if there's a requirement for an individual, we will address that matter when the request is made.

Further Return To Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1534

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1534

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Supplementary, Mr. Speaker, on the same issue of language transfer. I would like to ask the Minister, why wasn't the responsibility for Inuktitut legal and medical terminology development also transferred back to the Language Bureau if the aim was to consolidate these activities? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1534

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1534

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the honourable Member for the advice. We'll take the suggestion and consider transferring the responsibility. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Question 677-12(7): Employee Layoffs From Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1534

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will direct this question to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. In my constituency, the community of Sanikiluaq is getting larger and larger. I know the school board has changed their responsibility for that region, and it's very difficult in terms of transportation and communication. There's also a lake in between the school and the community. At this time, I know it's not possible to make arrangements for the planning

of municipal structures for school services for that community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 678-12(7): Infrastructure And Communication Concerns In Sanikiluaq
Question 678-12(7): Infrastructure And Communication Concerns In Sanikiluaq
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1535

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will look into the concern that the honourable Member is raising.

Return To Question 678-12(7): Infrastructure And Communication Concerns In Sanikiluaq
Question 678-12(7): Infrastructure And Communication Concerns In Sanikiluaq
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1535

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a question I would like to direct to the Minister of Health. Mr. Speaker, I have been approached by some seniors who are quite concerned about a number of initiatives being put forward by the government, at least they have the impression they are new initiatives. In this case, I would like to direct a question to the Minister of Health. I would like to ask whether or not seniors are being required to pay for part or all medical travel to southern facilities, where in the past they were not required to pay?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Cournoyea.

Return To Question 679-12(7): Medical Travel Costs For Seniors
Question 679-12(7): Medical Travel Costs For Seniors
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I have recently received a series of questions from seniors on this matter. There are a number of issues they have raised and want clarification on, but I have not been able to look at all the issues they've identified or to get an analysis of the impact of the changes we are making on seniors. We're presently working on that and I will be in a better situation to answer, once I've made the analysis on the impacts, if there are any. Mr. Speaker, there are some changes that have been made and we will try to address the number of issues the seniors have presented. Therefore, I'm not in a position to answer in detail whether all the issues are legitimate and to what extent there will be impacts on seniors, but I will make a commitment to deal with it as quickly as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 679-12(7): Medical Travel Costs For Seniors
Question 679-12(7): Medical Travel Costs For Seniors
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1535

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 679-12(7): Medical Travel Costs For Seniors
Question 679-12(7): Medical Travel Costs For Seniors
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1535

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this concern is not only with the Department of Health and Social Services, but there are also concerns from seniors regarding departments such as Transportation and Municipal and Community Affairs where there are a numbers of different programs now being assessed fees. I would like to ask the Minister if she would assure this House that all the government initiatives that deal with seniors will be conveyed to seniors before they are surprised at the ticket booths and government offices they have to deal with. Could she assure that there will be some communication before they end up experiencing these initiatives first hand?

Supplementary To Question 679-12(7): Medical Travel Costs For Seniors
Question 679-12(7): Medical Travel Costs For Seniors
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1535

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Ms. Cournoyea.

Further Return To Question 679-12(7): Medical Travel Costs For Seniors
Question 679-12(7): Medical Travel Costs For Seniors
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1535

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I've made a commitment to the seniors and I will make a commitment to this House that we will move on the matter as quickly as possible to ensure that when changes are made, communications get out early. I can make that commitment, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 679-12(7): Medical Travel Costs For Seniors
Question 679-12(7): Medical Travel Costs For Seniors
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1535

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on June 6th when I asked the Minister of Safety and Public Services about why it was taking so long for a constituent's complaint to be dealt with by the labour services people, the Minister advised that he would look into the problem and get back to us. I was wondering if the Minister has a reply yet to that question.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Safety and Public Services, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 680-12(7): Delay In Response From Labour Standards Division
Question 680-12(7): Delay In Response From Labour Standards Division
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can advise that, in general, labour standards disputes take various lengths of time to resolve. Claims require a certain amount of communication between both the employer and employee, a process which can be more complicated if either or both the employee and employer reside outside of the Northwest Territories. The length of time for investigation and resolution is also determined by their complexity and, therefore, it is difficult to determine whether or not a matter will be resolved in a timely fashion or will take an extended period of time to address and resolve.