Alfred Moses

I do agree. The NWT Arts Council does play a very important role as an advisory board to me as Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I did mention yesterday that I will be working with the Minister of ITI to look at options moving forward in terms of whether it is a strategy or how we can work better together and more collaboratively and, obviously, having the NWT Arts Council play a pivotal role in that. They are the ones who we assign to the boards, and they are the ones with the expertise who also help give us direction on how these funds are being allocated throughout the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently, there is no trigger to look at what will help in determining an increase in the budget. As I mentioned yesterday, when it comes to supporting the arts in the Northwest Territories, collectively as a government we are looking what all of our supports are within the departments. I also just want to point out, Mr. Speaker, that my department, the Department of ECE, has the second-highest per-capita rate in Canada when it comes to providing support for the arts, culture, and heritage here in the Northwest Territories, and every year we serve approximately 250...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 830-18(2): Small Community Employment Support Program," and "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 912-(2): Small Community Employment Support Program." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It's great to see that DJSS has great working relationships with the Hay River Metis and the Government Council. We also see that up in my region, where the IRC has taken one of the leading roles to help their students succeed, as well. As a government, we do provide inclusive schooling funding to all, well above the legislated amounts that we have, and work with our education authorities, our superintendents, board chairs, to ensure that services are being provided to assist those with special needs in the communities.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment does not decide what courses are being offered each semester within their respective schools. That is the responsibility of the school administration in consultation with the superintendents of education. DJSS could offer dash-4 courses, dash-1 courses, but it is the responsibility of the school administration and the superintendent. I think that needs to be brought up to the superintendent as well as brought forth to the administration of the school.

As I mentioned, I am going to have to have this discussion with my colleagues. We also have an advisory board with the NWT Arts Council. There are going to be some discussions that need to happen before we come back. I do not have a timeline. In due course, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it is more than just my department that will need to take a look at this in terms of the economic work and jobs that this arts sector creates. It is going to have to be a whole government approach when we take a look at this. We will be looking at that, as I mentioned in my previous questions, and then come back to the House to give up these numbers.

I also want to point out that the funding that we have given to the NWT Arts Council has been protected from any reductions moving forward, as well, and that we continue to support the arts sector and, as I mentioned in my previous answer, that we are going to be looking collectively at our contributions with all GNWT departments to see how much we are actually contributing and supporting the NWT arts community. Then we will have those discussions afterwards.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member knows, the NWT Arts Council Strategic Plan is coming to an end this year. We are working with the Department of ITI to look at options on creating a new NWT Arts Strategy. Obviously, we want to also involve our advisory body with the arts council and standing committee when we are looking at these options. We will proceed with those options, and, after discussions with the Department of ITI, we will come back to the Members of the Legislative Assembly.

Currently, work has begun to determine the current status, the gaps in services, and how to best address these gaps when it comes to busing. A steering committee has been formed which includes representation from the NWT Superintendents Association, the Department of ECE, and the Financial Management Board to make recommendations on opportunities for potential improvements in providing student transportation for services from junior kindergarten to grade 12. We're going to work on gathering that data, and look at the recommendations, and once the analysis of the status is complete, we will...