Alfred Moses

In this last fiscal year, we did have some communities that had the option of moving forward in junior kindergarten. We are in the process of going through our budgets for 2016-2017 coming up after we go through the interim appropriations here, and at that time, we'll look at where we can get the dollars to continue to implement junior kindergarten. But there is a process, and right now, we're going to have to wait until we go through that 2016-2017 budget to see where we can continue to provide all early childhood programs.

I did mention a few of the areas that we're looking into. Other areas, we're going to be looking at making the communication strategy on getting junior kindergarten communities a funding model, which was a big issue in the last government when junior kindergarten was first pushed out. We're looking at training our Early Childhood Development Officers plus the wage subsidy, and we want to get out there and do it right this time around and make sure that all communities do have input into the Junior Kindergarten Program and rolled out. It was a recommendation from the technical report that was...

As mentioned, the Sahtu Training Partnership Committee that's formed I would be willing to meet with that group as well and we can get some dates in place for the Member to see the best time to make the visit into the Sahtu.

Any decisions regarding increased training facilities or training program deliveries need to be made with a territorial context, as well as subject to the GNWT's capital planning process. What I would like to share with the Member, though, is that the Sahtu does have a regional training partnership that has been re-established. From my understanding, they stopped operating in 2013; however, the ECE Sahtu regional office is utilizing community employment officers as points of contact for community leaders, businesses, as well as residents to bring forward these training initiatives. I would be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I'm very happy to have three of my sisters joining us and taking in the proceedings, and I'll introduce them from youngest to oldest. Starting off with my youngest sister, Heather Moses, Laura Moses, and Agnes Pascal. I'm really glad they can be joining us here today. It is their first time in the Legislative Assembly and hopefully we will be able to get them a tour at some point, but welcome for joining us today. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The money that the department is asking for, the $101.1 million to cover the operational expense requirements for the first three months of the fiscal year April 1, 2016, to June 30, 2016, was based on budget amounts from the 2015-2016 Main Estimates, which was $309,786,000, plus the approved fiscal year 2016-2017 amounts from Supplementary Appropriations 1 and 2. Overall, ECE's interim appropriation of $101.1 million is approximately 33 per cent of the 2015-16 base appropriations, including the interim appropriation as forced growth associated with the income assistance...

As mentioned, over the next few months we're going to get out to the communities, engage them. We are new into this government and there are a lot of priorities within this department. We're looking at graduation rates, we're looking at post-secondary, and early childhood is one of them as well. We're going to try to get out there and try to get our staff into the communities, get that information. Once we have that information in the communities that want to provide junior kindergarten, then we'll look at an implementation date.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There's many areas that we need to still go out and consult on. As Members are aware, the 17th Legislative Assembly, the government at the time, did put a pause on the program to ensure the rollout was adequate and that we did get engagement and consultation from all the Members. A comprehensive report was done. We took the eight recommendations out of the comprehensive report with the main one focusing on engaging our stakeholders, which are daycares, Aboriginal Head Start, parents, elders, community leaders, and not only that, but also finding out what is in the...

A couple of things. The Skills 4 Success Initiative that we're going to be working on is going to build the foundation for what is needed out in the labour force, as what are the community needs. I did mention earlier in this session that we were going to be releasing the Labour Market Information Report that's going to guide us along the way in terms of all regions and what they need in terms of labour market workforce. With the department and my commitment to getting out to the committees and the regions to see what is needed, I can work with the Member to look at when we can make a visit to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The feasibility study that was conducted in 2014-2015 to examine the viability and a regional institute of technology in the Sahtu was brought forth to the department, and we shared that report with the Member for Sahtu at that time in the 17th Legislative Assembly. Unfortunately, the final report did mention that it was not feasible at this time to move forward on this initiative. The Member did ask if we would revive that report. I have no problems sharing that report with the new Member and moving forward to see how we can best look at providing programs and...