Mahsi. There has been discussion with the Akaitcho Government, as well, on this, especially with the executive director

identifying a feasibility study on the Weledeh dialect.

As you know, we have the nine Aboriginal official languages. Within that it also contains different dialects as well. So we have to be careful what we’re talking about here. Wiillideh dialect is part of the Tlicho dialect as well. So there’s different dialects that are involved; the Chipewyan dialect. So those are just some of the areas that the executive director was going to do some more research on in this area. But I can provide the latest update on what we have as a department from the Akaitcho Government, if they can provide that. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are also for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment in regard to a report, I believe in the last Assembly, called the Health Talk Report. There was a recommendation made in terms of having a translator in each of the regional health authorities to assist our growing population of seniors who need medical attention and services, but whose first language is their official language and English is their second language. So they might have some difficulty with the terminology or getting the proper information for the best care that they need. Can the Minister of ECE give us an update in terms of has anything been worked with the departments to address this issue? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Moses. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Language is very important to all the departments, especially when it comes to terminology, interpreting different words. We are currently working with each department, such as the Department of Health and Social Services more specifically dealing with the regional health authorities. Stanton has hired on-call interpreters, as well, even translators. So each department has their own roles and responsibilities to hire their interpreters and we do what we can as a department to identify the needs.

At times we did receive requests from constituencies across the Northwest Territories. When there are no interpreters, for example at Stanton, then right away, immediately a request would go to Health to deal with that matter. So it’s a coordinated approach between the departments.

So we’ll continue to monitor that and work closely with the Ministers. Mahsi.

The Minister mentioned earlier with going on with my other colleague asking question with the ALCIP program and the other program I believe in the Deh Cho, with the five modules. Would any of those programs be able to address the issues needed within our government system, such as Justice, Education or Health, in terms of terminology and getting the information to residents of the Northwest Territories where English is their second language? Do either of these programs address that concern and that issue? Thank you.

Mahsi. The Yamozha Kue Society out of Hay River delivers pilot projects on five modules and it is a basic, entry-level language. So it does capture, to some degree, on some of the interpretation, whether it be in a hospital setting. It is a basic level, but we are, as I stated, re-examining that area where if we can provide more effective and efficient course delivery that would capture and identify the terminology that’s used in hospital and school settings and so forth. So, yes, to some degree it does capture that, but it’s just very basic language that they’re being taught as part of the pilot project. Mahsi.

Can the Minister provide us with details on how many individuals did participate in that program that he mentioned out of Hay River, and if he’s looking at putting it into an advanced course and offering it to languages right throughout the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Mahsi. Yes, I did commit to re-evaluating that particular program as part of the Yamozha Kue Society and considering delivering that same or advanced-level courses into the Aboriginal language groups, into the communities. So that is our overall goal, is to capture the regions to the best of our ability as we were doing with the ALCIP program. So we’ll continue to address those needs. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to our growing seniors population which will result in more visits to the hospital, as well as the new crime bill coming through, we’re going to see more cases before the court system. Would the Minister commit to increasing some kind of funding pot for local interpreters who might be readily available? Would he be looking at creating some type of program where our local regional people can get some jobs in helping our elders, as well as those in the justice system with this type of thing to expect in the future? Thank you.

Mahsi. When I talked about re-examining our delivery program, that would definitely capture that. I need to work

with the departmental perspective, as well, the respective Ministers, how we can best deliver those programs and courses and work closely with the college as well. Aurora College has been successful in the past and now we’re re-examining that area as well. So, yes, that would be part of the discussion as we move forward. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today will be for the Minister of Health and Social Services. A couple of months ago the issue of the Edmonton city airport closure and how it affected our medevac flights was brought into the House and discussed here by some of the Members, and we did get some solid responses back from the Minister of Health. Most recently, updates to the Edmonton city urban site, or website, and I quote, “The city will continue to offer land at the City Centre Airport for use of Alberta Health Services to support helipads for medevac services.” It goes on to say there will be major development and redevelopment in the future, but it does not talk about fixed-wing development. Can the Minister, as he was promising back then, give us an update as to what’s happening right now in the city of Edmonton with medevac services?

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our deputy minister has been meeting with the Alberta Health and Wellness people and they last met in April of this past year. They had indicated that they had promised that they would provide us with some continual updates as things change at the Municipal Airport as they go for closing the Municipal Airport. Recently the DM has asked if she could participate in the Transition Advisory Committee at Alberta Health and Wellness, but we have not received a response on that yet. Thank you.

It’s promising to hear that we’ve got some steps in place. I heard the word “transition,” which is good to hear. In our previous discussions, there was talk about the Edmonton/Villeneuve or Edmonton Garrison Airport as potential alternative destination for medevac flights from the Northwest Territories, including northern Alberta and northern BC. Has the Minister made strides in this area to see if that could be secured earlier, while we’re waiting for Edmonton to come up with a battle plan?

I’m not aware of any discussions with the Garrison Airport since the time that was brought up. I had recently met with the retired nurses from Alberta and the NWT; they were not aware of that as well. We spoke a bit about that. So I could get some updated information on the Garrison Airport and provide that information to the Member.

Thank you to the Minister. Recent public consultation workshops have ended here in Edmonton and they have claimed that by November of this year, November 2012, they are going to have what is called a Redevelopment Master Plan. As I said, in the website, they’re talking about still maintaining helipads for emergency services but did not talk anything about fixed wings. Can the Minister indicate if there is some type of master plan where emergency services are still going to be offered with heli services, and will there be some changes potentially in how our patients will be delivered in the downtown corridor of Edmonton?

At this time their plan is to move our medevacs to the international airport. At this time there is no plan to continue to keep a strip open at the Municipal Airport. However, like I have indicated, our deputy minister is continuing to have discussions to see if that is a possibility. They are currently using some flights that are going to the international airport as a backup for the Municipal Airport, and it’s been working fine. So far it seems like individuals have a fear that the international airport is a long way out. I think it’s about 45 minutes, and that could mean a matter of life or death. We’re continuing to talk with Alberta Health and Wellness, who are dealing with the City of Edmonton.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I couldn’t agree more. I think people are gravely concerned with the distance of the Edmonton International Airport, and trying to get loved ones and people who need medevac services as quick as possible to the hospitals. I think that’s the big question here. I’m hearing about, we’re part of a Transition Advisory Committee, but it seems that we’re working on the mercy of Edmonton and Alberta Health and Wellness. Does this government, does this department have a transition plan? Are we using alternative sites? Are we using alternative hospitals, Grande Prairie, other areas of that nature, to come up with a plan in the event something does not work out for the benefit of the Northwest Territories? Do we have a plan? Because I haven’t heard one yet.

As I indicated, the DM has asked to sit on the Transition Advisory Committee. What I can do is go back to the deputy minister to

see if we have worked out some sort of plan with the City of Edmonton or Alberta Health and Wellness, to see if there is a plan that will support our medevacs, to see if there is an alternative closer to the uptown, such as Garrison or that some emergency may be kept open. I can have that information for the Member before the end of session.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.