Alfred Moses

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to present the 2017-2018 Main Estimates for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Overall, the department's estimates total $314.9 million, which is a decrease of $969,000 or 0.3 per cent from the 2016-2017 Main Estimates.

These estimates continue to support the GNWT's objective of ensuring a strong and sustainable future for the government and its programs by managing expenditures due to limited revenue growth.

The 2017-2018 Main Estimates include:

$2.2 million to fund rises associated with the increased clients accessing...

As I mentioned earlier when I was responding to another Member's questions, on average, for the last three years, we have had 29 students enroll in through the TEP program. For the last three years, on average, we have graduated seven. We are currently in the same process this year, and I encourage all the students who are in the program right now, to study hard, to work hard, and to get that degree so that we can employ you in our schools, in our communities. We are also currently working and supporting 33 students outside of the territory.

These are evidence-based decisions that were made...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned earlier, at the beginning of this process, our department, the Department of ECE, worked in collaboration with the Aurora College staff and executive to identify reductions within their program services. I will have to find out from the department if there was a full evaluation done on the program and get back to the Member on that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The whole process of looking at reductions was in Aurora College. The department worked with Aurora College to look at their programs and reviews, and as all Members in this House know, our job is to make tough decisions at times; and sometimes, those decisions are not popular. After the reviews on looking at the programs, these two programs were selected and brought forth to this government.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On average, we get about 29 students who enroll in Aurora College's TEP program. Over the last three years, we have also averaged seven graduates out of that program. Indigenous, non-Indigenous, we don't have those numbers right now, but we do support all Northerners when they are seeking post-secondary education. We also supported 33 students this academic year studying to become teachers in the South, in southern institutions. We continue to support them, and we are committed to continue to support financially, and support through counselling, and any support that the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The whole process of this, when it came to light, there was information that was shared with standing committee. The standing committee was aware of this last year. We worked with the board. The board executive was known of this when we worked with the executive moving forward. None of this is new. This is where we debated in the House during budget session, and that's what we're having now is a healthy debate on the programs. These two programs were identified, and we will be debating that when we get into the main estimates in Committee of the Whole.

As I had mentioned earlier, as Members of the Legislative Assembly, sometimes you have tough decisions to make. In terms of reductions, my department, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, worked with the department at Aurora College to identify where reductions could be made in Aurora College. The consultation took place. They looked at the programs, looked at what the impacts were, and as you have heard on many occasions the fiscal situation that this government is in and the fiscal responsibility that we have as legislatures on the public purse, sometimes you have got to make...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We don't know that at this time. As I mentioned, this is a program that is going to be phased out. June 30, 2020 will be the last day of this program. In that time, we are working on developing a strategic framework and strategy coming forward that might replace it with another program. We are going to see what that strategic plan says, while we are also going to be working with the Thebacha campus on the next steps as we move forward. We cannot make any predictions at this time on the economics that this will bring to Fort Smith.

I had a similar question yesterday when we talked about the social worker program. Our governments, our departments, through the JK to 12 system, run students through Aboriginal language and culture, basic education. We have On-the-Land programs. You have language programs. We have other programs that we are piloting in certain regions that focus on culture and awareness.

Over the last year and in the last government, we did implement a residential school Northern Studies training. We are working on developing Northern Studies that are going to focus on self-governments, land claims, and any...

As I mentioned, the department continues to maintain the funding levels for inclusive schooling. We work very collaboratively with the Department of Health and Social Services to do assessments, support children with disabilities, developmental needs. We are developing and revising a JK to Grade 9 health curriculum in order to ensure preventative approaches to children's health are included. A lot of areas we are continuing to work on to address some of the concerns that are being brought forward.