Caroline Cochrane

I do have to say I really appreciate the questions today because the MLA has actually pointed out a lot of the vision things, a lot of our strengths, a lot of the areas that we need to work with. The reason that I'm really promoting to move into a polytechnic university is because that research money is leaving the Northwest Territories. We have hundreds of universities coming across the world up to Inuvik to study our issues, and we're not tapping into that money because we're still a college.

So moving into a polytechnic university will allow us to not only access that money, but it keeps the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I would like to clarify that at no time was it my intention to move programs out of Fort Smith. My vision is to actually expand and strengthen programs in all campuses. It is not about one community or another.

I do want to also talk about the idea of ENR and what the Member had talked about. Yes, that is part of our visioning exercise that we need to do, is going throughout the territory and looking at the strengths that we have to offer and getting that from all of the communities, all of the people, so that when people identify one of the strengths, ENR...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Why it wasn't addressed at the start of the school year is because we just had the shuffle in the spring, April, I believe it was, so I had just taken on the portfolio of Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. It wasn't until the summer months, actually, that it was brought to my attention that we're not having more than one teacher in schools.

I do have to recognize the MLA, Shane Thompson, for bringing that to my attention. It was a serious concern of his and a serious concern of mine. Safety is number one. So, it took a little bit of time because it was...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are continuing with our mandate commitment to implement the Education Renewal and Innovation Framework and Action Plan. I am pleased to report that the education system is improving to meet the needs of the students, educators, and families of the Northwest Territories. We are at the mid-point of our 10-year strategy, and we are seeing numerous successes and further opportunities for action.

Mr. Speaker, there are many challenges in delivering education in the Northwest Territories. We are taking a made-in-the-North approach, recognizing the unique nature...

Yes, it will have an impact. It's going to mean better support for the students within the schools. So, schools are still funded for a half-time position for a language instructor and also for program support. This is actually on top, this is actually more support for students, and it's about safety for our students. So it's a good thing, and I will do my best to make sure it's maintained. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The decision just came through. It was around a month ago, actually, that I was allowed to make this decision. So, we phoned all of the education bodies. We notified them verbally. We're in the process now of doing written letters to them all advising and then reinstating the funding so that they'll have the full-year funding for the year.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take a moment to recognize a lot of schools here. We have N.J. Macpherson School, grade 4 and 5 students, and St. Pat’s High School, grade 9. I’m not sure which one is your son, but welcome to the gallery.

We also have students from the second year of the social work program and the fourth year of the Bachelor of Science and Nursing program, 22 students and faculty. Welcome. One of the faculty, Susan Fitzky, I recognize. I apologize if I don’t recognize the names of the other ones.

I also want to recognize some constituents within that: Lucinda Kanapetradu...

We used internal funding for this year because I needed it done and I wanted it done now. However, we have talked, and so, we are putting together a proposal at this moment, and we'll be bringing it through the Financial Management Board for a decision for future funding.

Since the Member brought it up, there must be an issue with it. I'm more than willing to sit down with the Member and discuss what their community is actually seeing as barriers. My understanding is that we do have workers going in once a month at minimum. I will make sure that they are providing that service, and I would be more than willing to meet with the MLA to figure out what the issues are and see how we can accommodate.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently, we have a client service officer who travels into Tsiigehtchic on a monthly basis so that they can meet with income support clients. We also have government service officers who can help people with filling out forms or applications, et cetera, if the client service officers aren't in Tsiigehtchic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.