Leon Lafferty

Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Leon Lafferty is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly November 2003, as MLA for North Slave

Lost his last election, in 2003, with 25% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Congratulations To North Slave Athletes And Coaches March 20th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to congratulate the athletes and coaches from the North Slave who recently participated in the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse. I would like to send congratulations to:

  • • Freddie Tinqui from Rae Edzo, who earned a gold ulu in Dene games and who was acknowledged as the all-around individual in the open male category. As well, Freddie received a gold ulu in the snow snake competition, throwing the stick 35 feet farther than anyone else. Freddie also earned a bronze ulu in the stick pull event with Fred Steinwand and joined two other Team NWT members to win a gold ulu in hand games, and a bronze medal in the pole push competition;
  • • On his own, Fred Steinwand earned a bronze in the finger pull event; and
  • • I would like to acknowledge Colinda Blondin, who earned a silver medal in wrestling.

Along with their coach, Mike Botermans, seven soccer players from Rae Edzo joined Team Northwest Territories and placed fourth in juvenile men's soccer. I would like to send congratulations to:

  • • Glenn Blondin;
  • • Tyron Fish;
  • • Melvin Lafferty;
  • • Jonathan Mackenzie-Zoe;
  • • Shane Mackenzie-Zoe;
  • • Cody Mantla; and
  • • Marvin Migwi.

Team Northwest Territories was well represented in women's volleyball. Along with their coach Sara Tkaczuk, Tracy Beaulieu, Wendy Mantla, Kerry Lee Rabesca, and Pamala Richardson of Rae Edzo teamed up with four Wha Ti women to participate in women's volleyball. The players from Wha Ti were Bernice Beaverho, Katrina Jeremick'ca, Christina Simpson and Tephanie Wedawin.

Although not all the athletes that went to the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse received medals, each and every athlete that participated deserves recognition. I would like to acknowledge the fine job they did in representing not only the North Slave region, but the entire Western Arctic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Question 74-14(2): Improving Safety On NWT Highways February 28th, 2000

I will save it for another day, Mr. Speaker.

Question 74-14(2): Improving Safety On NWT Highways February 28th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister, when he passes a bill, if public input is put into passing bills for safety issues under the Motor Vehicles Act?

Question 74-14(2): Improving Safety On NWT Highways February 28th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I have a question for the Minister responsible for Transportation, the Honourable Vince Steen. Last week he stated the speed limit will be reduced on Highway No. 3 from 90 kilometres per hour to 70 kilometres per hour for trucks. This would be in effect on the portion of the road between Stagg River and Yellowknife.

I would like to know if Mr. Steen would also consider long-term ways to improve safety on all territorial highways. For example, would the Minister look into the combined use of running lights and low beams on vehicles? Some vehicles have more than one set of running lights. When these lights are both on, they blind oncoming traffic. Thank you.

Reading Achievements Of Rae-edzo Students February 28th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to acknowledge an achievement that is going to be celebrated in Rae this week. Two hundred and fifty students and staff at Elizabeth Mackenzie School in Rae-Edzo have been dropping everything and reading for 15 minutes every single school day since the start of the current school year.

This Friday, March 3, 2000, the school will be celebrating the students' and staffs' accomplishments. They have read for over 250,000 minutes. That is more than a quarter of a million minutes of reading.

This 15-minute daily program, called DEAR, is a small part of the Dogrib Community Services Board's plan to focus on improving reading achievement throughout its schools in the Dogrib region.

A part of the celebration will be a feast for the students in the school gym. The feast will open with a traditional drum prayer, and elders will sit with the students to enjoy the feast together.

I would like to send congratulations to the students and staff of Elizabeth Mackenzie School. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters February 27th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In our region, the makeup of the board consists of four chiefs and councillors from the hamlet and band who are appointed by the councils. We have some elected members. The minority are elected.

In our region, we have a concern it is run by the politicians. Because of this, there are a lot of health issues. Even budget funding is believed to be diverted to areas other than where it should be. What we are thinking of doing is having fully elected members. The reason I am saying this is some people will run for election for two or three positions and lose the election. Then they are appointed by the band or the hamlet council, which gives them a back door to come in, whether the public wanted them or not. That is one of the issues that should be looked at and maybe brought back to the communities for suggestions.

Another issue is we should look at training more Northerners, including training them in a second language. I think that is the hope we are looking at in my region. If we could get a facility there, we can train our people using their language. We can treat the elders who do not speak the English language.

I was in Edmonton and I saw an elder in the hospital. He would not get any surgery because he did not know what they were going to do to him. He had his daughter with him, but his daughter did not understand the medical terms. So I interpreted for him. Only then would he get the surgery done. We have issues like that where we have escorts that are with the patients, but the escorts do not understand because there are no interpreters in those areas. Those are the two issues I think we should look at. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Question 67-14(2): Snare Lakes Winter Road February 27th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The question I asked was for the winter road that is there this year. I am not sure if it will be there next year, since there is a contract happening at Colomac. Due to that, the road was put into Colomac, and then a contractor went into Snare Lake. I was asking if they could extend it for this year.

Question 67-14(2): Snare Lakes Winter Road February 27th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe I did not phrase the question correctly. I know the contractor put in the road, but I was asking if the Minister responsible for Transportation and his department was willing to fund the extension of the winter road?

Question 67-14(2): Snare Lakes Winter Road February 27th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Steen, the road I am speaking of is the one from Colomac to Snare Lake, which might be around 70 kilometres?

Question 67-14(2): Snare Lakes Winter Road February 27th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Steen. A winter road has been put into Snare Lake by a contractor. The Chief and Council of Snare Lake would like the winter road extended for two weeks. Is the department willing to fund two weeks of maintenance on that winter road after it is shut down on March 15, 2000? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.