This is page numbers 1113 - 1136 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 3rd 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 services.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Koana, Mr. Speaker, qujannamiik. I want to pay tribute to the Wiilideh language and to the community leadership dedicated to its support and promotion. Wiilideh is a unique language, not Chipewyan and not Tlicho and not yet an official language. While funding support is provided for some community programs, formal efforts to preserve and promote the language rely heavily upon a determination and professionalism of community language specialists.

Thanks to the efforts of the Goyatiko Language Society under the expert leadership of Mary Rose Sundberg, great strides have been made. Goyatiko delivers Wiilideh education materials, community programs and supports, and expert advice to teaching assistants who promote languages in the schools. Volunteers provide after-school programs and the young ones attend eagerly.

In his February 14

th Minister’s statement, the

Education Minister spoke positively of his visit to Alaska and the programs for inclusion of elders in the schools there. The presence of elders, an established and much beloved feature in our K’alemi Dene School, a model I commend to the Minister as he researches introduction of elders programming in all our schools.

Progress has been made in piloting an Aboriginal Interpreter Translator Pilot Training Program. The purpose of the training is to establish a pool of certified Dene interpreter/translators to provide quality language services in the communities. Aurora College’s Aboriginal Language and Cultural Instructor Program is helping train and certify our next generation of language professionals.

We have placed priority on the promotion of Aboriginal languages and committees, and Members will continue to push for greater achievements. We have recognized the opportunities presented for enhancing the capacity to learn languages through a focus on the early years of child development when children lay the foundations for lifelong language skills.

Language is the basis of flourishing cultures. We in the NWT are blessed beyond all provinces and territories in having a mosaic of 11 languages; some might say 12. In national and even global terms, we enjoy a birthright to be envied and cherished. Let’s continue to treasure that richness and keep our efforts for Aboriginal language promotion strong. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise again today to remind the Minister of Health and Social Services that the downtown day shelter still needs a lot of support. I spoke in the House the other day about how we need focused hope and purpose for people. We have an opportunity to give people purpose. As I said in Committee of the Whole the other day, we could be providing good focus and opportunity to treat addictions; we could be working on employment and even health clinics in this particular facility.

The government has committed financial resources as well as good brain power on the excitement and opportunity presented for people. So the issue before us here today is what are we doing to support that hope and what are we doing to provide those services to good folks.

I’ve spoken about the continued bad behavior there that we need to put an action to, and I’ll be asking questions of the Minister of Health and Social Services to see what he’s going to do from an action plan context as to how to help people there.

Today we heard how he’ll later table the Shared Path Towards Wellness. I hope he has not forgotten about the opportunities that could happen at the downtown day shelter to help people find homes, to help people find work, and certainly to help fight those demons known as addictions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

[Translation] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week we received new rulings from the Supreme Court, which were submitted on June the 1

st . The French rights are in the federal law and

Francophones in the Northwest Territories have fought for many years to obtain equal school access identical to what their English colleagues get... [Translation ends]

…through a Supreme Court decisions regarding French language schooling in the NWT, decisions rendered on June 1

st of this year.

French language rights are protected in federal law and NWT Francophones have been fighting for years to get school facilities on par with their Anglophone counterparts. One decision forces the GNWT to expand both Francophone schools, Ecole Boreale in Hay River and Ecole Allain St-Cyr in Yellowknife. Ecole Boreale to accommodate 160 students and Ecole Allain St-Cyr to accommodate 250 students. It all must be done by September of

2015. Needless to say, the Commission Scolaire Francophone Territoires du Nord-ouest is very happy.

This ruling has huge implications, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT, in three years’ time, must have completed the infrastructure enhancements ordered by the judge. Considering the time frame alone, never mind the cost, it’s a daunting task. And the cost will be significant. At minimum, four specialist classrooms and a gymnasium are required. How this government will fit that expense into our minimal capital budgets over the next two years remains to be seen.

My own view is that the judge was somewhat overzealous with the schedule in their decision, but then the GNWT has been ignoring a previous judgment directing the GNWT to expand Ecole Allain St-Cyr for some 10 years. So maybe this is payback in the court’s view.

My hope is that the Commission Scolaire Francophone and the GNWT can sit down together and discuss and agree to realistic construction timelines. The work must be started immediately, no question about that, but completion by 2015 could be hard to achieve. There must be a willingness to move ahead, but with some consideration for flexibility.

It would be the best if all of our Aboriginal languages had the same rights under the law as the Francophone minority does. Maybe in time we will get there. For now, our government must accept the rulings and move ahead. Merci, monsieur.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today is language day. I will be doing a part of my Member’s statement in Chipewyan.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to Alphonse King of Fort Resolution. He’s also known as “The Fonze.” Alphonse King was born April 5, 1949, and passed away June 8, 2012. He was only 63 years old. He died of terminal cancer.

[English translation not provided.]

Alphonse King spent the first quarter of his life in Rocher River. Like many people from Rocher River, Alphonse had to move to Fort Resolution when the school in Rocher River burnt down. He was a trapper and he had moved at a young age. He used to live on the Taltson River and trap and hunt up there with his father and his stepmother and many of his brothers and sisters.

Alphonse is survived by his spouse, Georgina Biscaye. His daughter is Priscilla Calumet, his step-daughter, Lacy Biscaye, and some grandchildren also.

[English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member’s statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

[English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to pass my condolences on to the family of Alphonse King, who died way too soon. I’m sure that he will be sadly missed by his entire family in Fort Resolution.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

[English translation not provided.]

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

I’d like to draw your attention to the presence in our visitors gallery today of Ms. Therese Boullard and Ms. Deborah McLeod from the offices of the Human Rights Commission. Ms. Boullard was the very first director of the Human Rights Commission, appointed under the NWT Human Rights Act. She was first appointed in 2004 and since then has overseen the implementation of our made-in-the-North human rights legislation. This summer Ms. Boullard will be relocating to her native British Columbia after more than eight years of outstanding service to the people of the Northwest Territories and this Legislative Assembly. Ms. Boullard, you have made a lasting impact on the Northwest Territories during your time as the director of the Human Rights Commission, and we thank you for your service here in the Northwest Territories.

Yesterday we confirmed the appointment of Ms. Deborah McLeod to take over from Ms. Boullard as the director of the Human Rights Commission. Ms. McLeod has served as the deputy director of Human Rights since November 1, 2004. Congratulations on your new appointment, Ms. McLeod, and we wish you good luck in your new responsibilities.

The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to acknowledge and welcome to this House Mr. Sonny McDonald, a Fort Smither, long-time government employee, imminent northern artist, all around good guy, and he sits on the Mackenzie River Basin Board representing the Northwest Territories. Welcome to the Assembly.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to welcome a Frame Lake constituent, Ms. Lyda Fuller, executive director of the Yellowknife YWCA. I’d also like to recognize one of our city councillors, Ms. Lydia Bardak. She’s also the executive director of the John Howard Society. Thank you. Welcome to everyone who’s here.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Ramsay.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to echo your comments to Ms. Boullard. Thank you very much for your service, and I recognize her attendance here today. As well, Ms. McLeod, best wishes in your new position. I’d also like to recognize Sonny MacDonald. Sonny is a well-known, skilled artist from Fort Smith and he’s been a huge contributor to the arts and craft industry here in the Northwest Territories. It’s an honour to have him here in the gallery today. I also wanted to recognize Lydia Bardak, Yellowknife city counsellor. I also see Arlene Hache, I’d like to recognize. As well, a constituent of mine, Emily Lawson. Thank you.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Bromley.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize the residents of Weledeh including Therese Boullard, and thank her very much for her good work on the human rights office. Also, Lydia Bardak and Arlene Hache, both well-known and also doing good work on behalf of the NWT residents. Also, of course, Lyda Fuller, YWCA. Thank you.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. McLeod.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to welcome Mr. Roland Rogers, the housing manager in the community of Aklavik to the gallery. Welcome.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Lafferty.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Mr. Peter Huskey, who is here with us today. Welcome. He is from Behchoko and actively involved with the meetings that are occurring. I’d just like to welcome him here. Mahsi.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. I’d like to welcome all our visitors in the public gallery here today. Thank you for taking an interest in our proceedings in the Legislative Assembly.

Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.