Charles Dent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As part of our Teacher Education Program, that is, in fact, done by the college right now. That’s part of the Teacher Education Program. Mr. Speaker, we run a system of education in the Northwest Territories where local control is considered very important, so schools can reflect local culture, the local wishes of parents. So the funding is handed from this government to the boards by way of formula and there aren't a lot of ways in which we control that. We have the Education Act which sets out how things have to be done. We have an accepted curriculum, we have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for instance, the Tlicho or Dogrib Community Services Board takes every teacher out on the land before school for a week for a community hunt. Almost all of the regions, in fact all of the regions do some form of cultural awareness. So it’s best handled at the board level because each region has a different culture that needs to be appreciated. Each of the boards take the lead on providing the detailed cultural awareness programming and that’s accommodated through the transfers they are provided to operate the boards in each region.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there were a number of constituents in the audience earlier, but there are still two who I would like to recognize: Mr. Blake Lyons, who is a councillor and president of the NWTAC; and Barb Wyness with the Union of Northern Workers.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure whether or not that would. I would have to check with the college. I will take that question as notice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, no, there would not be government resources that would go into this. This sort of programming is available across the Northwest Territories. Any person who has an idea for a course can come and pitch the campus director and request use of space when it’s not otherwise being used for college purposes. Then they have to pay for the course and the space themselves. The cost would have to be recovered from fees. The college would not be putting any money into courses like this that are offered outside of the regular programming.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will certainly discuss with Mr. McLeod what the options might be for us to examine our legislation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NWT Dog Act says that no person shall punish or abuse a dog in a manner or to an extent that is cruel or unnecessary. So we have legislation in place that is intended to ensure that dogs are treated humanely. It is an issue that under this law is administered by Municipal and Community Affairs, because of their relationship with municipalities. The municipalities can pass bylaws respecting the care and control of dogs, as well. So in terms of what Cabinet has done to change our approach, the Cabinet hasn’t, at this point, done anything. I think we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this week is Apprenticeship Week and on Thursday, apprentices and occupational candidates from all regions of the Northwest Territories will be given awards of excellence. These awards are given to the individuals with the highest marks in each specific working area.

Mr. Speaker, developing trades people and certifying occupations is essential to ensuring that future developments in the Northwest Territories benefit northerners first. For our people to get the most out of the diamond mines, oil and gas development, and other projects, they need to have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, February 11, 2005, I will move that Bill 22, An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure of the exact criteria. I would expect that the college would require people to be conducting courses that are within the law, that would not be personally offensive to others and the standard sort of requirements that you would expect for use of public space. Anybody is entitled to go to the campus director and propose a course and say here is what I propose to offer, here is how I propose to do it and if the space would otherwise not be used for something else, it can be made available if there is enough public interest to see such a course proceed.