Mackenzie Delta

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 19)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Presently they’re spending about $180,000 in regard to the home boarders. I’m just wondering if that money could be given to the community so they can maybe hire a few extra teachers in those communities to assist these students to keep them in school and get them into the classroom and keep them there to try to salvage the year end. There is money still in the budget no longer being expended. It was for the purpose of home boarding. Can those dollars be reallocated to those communities and get those kids back into school?

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 19)

Next on the list is Mr. Hawkins.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 19)

If the Minister would be seriously considering the cost right now that is being borne by the divisional board of education in Inuvik for home boarding or for a hostel, which is already part of their budget, take those dollars and give it to those communities so the community students don’t have to leave their home communities and put it into those communities so they can hire more teachers.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 19)

Next on the list is Mr. Bromley, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bromley.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 19)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, have similar concerns in regard to the students in Tsiigehtchic who now are having to go off to get their high school education in Inuvik by way of home boarding.

Mr. Speaker, there was a decision made by the government, I believe in the 12th Assembly, to implement high schools in all communities in the Northwest Territories from K to 12. Yet, Mr. Speaker, almost 20 years later we still haven’t been able to implement that decision made by previous governments. Mr. Speaker, when we have the dropout rates that we’re seeing in regard to home boarding or...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 19)

Thank you. Welcome, witnesses. General comments for the Department of Health and Social Services.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 19)

Does the committee agree that Ms. Lee brings in her witnesses?

---Agreed.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 19)

Comments. General comments. With that, we are hearing more general comments as we read, we are going to begin with the Department of Health and Social Services. So at this time I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services if she has any opening comments. Ms. Lee.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 19)

Mr. Bromley.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 4th Session (day 19)

It’s important to realize that by doing that, it’s not simply a way of centralizing everything in one place, but ensuring that those dollars that should be expended in the area of education, the area of health care is actually being spent on education and actually being spent on health care and not being expended on administration.

I’m glad to see that the Department of ECE and the Housing Corporation saw the light in regards to dealing with public housing and income support. I think, if anything, there is also an area that Housing has to take a closer look at and consider exactly how do they...