Statements in Debates
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize my constituency assistant, Liz Wright. Also, the chair of the Porcupine Caribou Management Board, Joe Tetlichi, and the secretary/treasurer of the Porcupine Caribou Management Board, Deana Lemke. As you know, the Porcupine Caribou Management Board is the only wildlife management board that has a management plan for caribou, and I'd just like to thank them for all they do for the Porcupine Caribou on behalf of my constituents. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my riding, two young women recently graduated from Aurora College's Early Childhood development Program, along with another of their colleagues who graduated from Yukon College. These women are a northern success story. Gwich'in women who studied and trained in the Northwest Territories and Yukon; then took their skills home to our small community to care for the next generation through the Aboriginal Head Start program. But Mr. Speaker, the government's plans for junior kindergarten has left these Northerners concerned about both the children in their...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too of course am in support of this motion, as I second it. Mr. Speaker, there's growing concerns in the community of Fort McPherson; it has been for the last couple of years with the roll out of junior kindergarten. One thing for sure is the effect it will have on the Aboriginal Head Start program. As I mentioned earlier, we have three young ladies that recently received their certificates in early childhood development, and, Mr. Speaker, now as they start their career here they've been put in a three-month contract, whereas before it's never been like...
Mr. Speaker, I realize a lot of training has been done, but are there any actually added funds to DEAs to follow through with the junior kindergarten?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a follow-up to my Member's statement; I have a few questions for the Minister of Education. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my statement there's a lot of concerns how junior kindergarten will affect Aboriginal Head Start in the communities of Fort McPherson and Aklavik within my riding. In Tsiigehtchic there's not as much concern there because we do not have the program there. But I would like to ask the Minister: how can the department assure my constituents that junior kindergarten will not affect Aboriginal Head Start? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you colleagues. Mr. Speaker, and in my riding where AHS has helped Aboriginal children learn and grow - to get that essential "head start" - for two decades, we are not assured that immediate entry into the school system through junior kindergarten will serve our children better.
The department says participation in junior kindergarten will be optional, but Mr. Speaker, that choice won't be meaningful if other community-based programs are driven into a different operations model - or out of operations altogether. The government's mandate commits to supporting...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have some questions from my Member's statement earlier to the Minister of Housing. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, at the moment our programs go by the total household gross income. Even if we went by a net income, this would make a huge difference for people to qualify for the programs that are offered through Housing, so I would like to ask the Minister what the department would be willing to do to make this change. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, winter has come to the Delta. At this time of year and throughout the coldest months, people struggle with deteriorating homes. Things that are falling into disrepair become bigger problems. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT offers assistance to many residents to find adequate, affordable, and suitable places to live. Housing is crucial to a person's overall well-being. In the past, governments have encouraged people to build their own homes or even given homes to people in communities. Programs are available to subsidize the cost of home heating and repairs. Many...
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Committee, a motion to report the progress is in order. Motion is carried. Committee will now rise and report the progress. Thank you.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, many of my constituents do not quality for these programs, so are we making home energy efficiency improvements available to people in the smaller communities? Mahsi.