Frieda Martselos

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to ask a question on the student financial assistance. For the 2018-2019 actuals to now, there has been an increase. Does that mean there are more students enrolled, or does it mean an increase in student financial assistance?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I also want to talk a little bit about inclusive schooling. When the junior kindergarten came into play, there were gaps because of junior kindergarten, and inclusive schooling isn't back to where it used to be. There were a lot of extracurricular activities that were taken away from both schools in Fort Smith, and there is still a financial gap because of junior kindergarten. All our funds, all excessive funds, were always given to the junior kindergarten program, and there have been some financial gaps. I wonder when those gaps are going to be closed. I do all of my...

I'd like to ask the Minister: how could you call this a territorial support team if they're not able to go into the communities?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to ask a question to the Minister with regard to the territorial support team, and how many times they go into the communities. Because it's a territorial support team, I would like to know how many times they come to the community of Fort Smith?

Madam Speaker, could the Minister honestly say, before all the Members of this House, that the Affirmative Action Policy is actually working for the people of the NWT? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Does the Minister feel confident that the Affirmative Action Policy is objective and serving the people of the NWT in an honest and sincere manner?

Madam Speaker, I want to revisit the issue of the Government of the Northwest Territories Affirmative Action Policy once again, because, as I see it, this policy is not serving the people of Fort Smith or the people of the NWT. The e-mail that I received from the finance Minister on February 27, 2020, is a typical government explanation, and I do not accept a response like that from a Minister. When an MLA asks for a response in confidence, I expect a more personal and detailed response.

Madam Speaker, I strongly feel that the Affirmative Action Policy across the NWT, including the riding of...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to make a comment and one question on Aurora College. I come, of course, from Fort Smith and the constituency of Thebacha. We are very proud of Aurora College and the campus of Fort Smith. We have a lot of incredible staff there who are very qualified who do have doctorate degrees and have a wide variety of academics who come to that college. It is not filled to capacity. The intake is extremely important to the community of Fort Smith. Aurora College has been there; that is where it started in 1969. I just want to make sure that you consider doing probably...

I just want to make sure that all students who want to take post-secondary education have access. I am saying that because we had a problem just before Christmas with regard to the new aviation program that was being held in Fort Smith. In the end, I want to make sure that post-secondary education includes pilots, that it does not necessarily have to all be associated with Aurora College or University of Alberta or anywhere else in Canada, and I want to make sure that access is important for all students of the Northwest Territories and there is no distinguishment of where they are going to...

I just want to remind the Minister that there are a lot of qualified people in other communities, also, besides Yellowknife, and just doing something a little bit differently to ensure that we get the same service as the people of Yellowknife is essential. I think we are not asking for very much. It's a right. We live in the same area. We have this mandate, and I honestly feel that I want you to know that you agree with me, that there are qualified people all over the territories, not only Fort Smith, Inuvik, Yellowknife. The smaller communities have qualified people. Correct?