Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. I would like to ask the Minister now if he would like to bring in witnesses.

Thank you. Go ahead.

I don’t have any further questions. Thanks to the Minister for that commitment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks for the comments from the Minister. I’m happy he appreciates what I’m trying to bring forward here and will try to address it. I still haven’t heard him address the scheduling difficulties, because there are two different tracks here. Decisions apparently will be made on Aboriginal student achievement earlier.

Will the Minister commit to reviewing this situation and briefing the Standing Committee on Social Programs at the earliest opportunity on how the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative and early childhood development reviews will be integrated before any...

Thanks to the Minister for those remarks. There are two problems with that approach, of course. First is that the early childhood development review has not been complete so we’re dealing with old information. Second, the Minister, in his briefings, has told me that the early childhood aspect of the review of Aboriginal student achievement focuses on schools, daycares, mandatory kindergarten for five year olds, optional kindergarten for four year olds. Even the family and student support focuses on things like family counsellors and tutors, access to school computers. These are way too late...

A comprehensive early childhood development plan is the essential first step to improve Aboriginal student achievement. Until we have early childhood plans in place, the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative will be lacking critical answers. Let’s not short change the vital early childhood issues by rushing to early decisions on formal schooling aspects of Aboriginal student achievement.

I will be asking the Minister of ECE questions on this. Mahsi.

Does committee agree that Bill 8 is ready for third reading?

---Bill 8 as a whole approved for third reading

Thank you, committee, and thank you, Minister. I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses from the House. Mrs. Groenewegen.

We’ll proceed with the clause by clause. To do that we will turn to page 1. Does committee agree to clause 1 through 5?

---Clauses 1 through 57 inclusive approved

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a society we need to cultivate and promote our strong northern candidates for positions of leadership in education. Through its Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, ECE is placing top priority on improving the academic performance of Aboriginal students, and rightly so. Grade standings, competencies, and graduation rates among Aboriginal students remain unacceptably low in comparison with non-Aboriginal students across the NWT. Here in Yellowknife 50 percent of our students are Aboriginal.

Regional consultations note that strong teaching and program...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 9-16(6), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2011-2012, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 9-16(6) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Mahsi.