Jackie Jacobson

You know, Mr. Speaker, they may be the experts in regards to what’s needed in the communities of Nunakput in the Beaufort-Delta, but, Mr. Speaker, sometimes we have to give direction. He’s the Education Minister. I have eight students in the community of Sachs Harbour not being educated right now that I want something done. They have two months left in the curriculum. They’re done school in May. What’s he going to do? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, Mr. Speaker, my Member’s statement was the education in today’s world and the education in Nunakput. The education in the world requires many resources, even through the buildings that house our students, the books, our basic supplies, all the school needs in today’s world. Much more is needed, Mr. Speaker. Our kids are increasingly left behind.

Mr. Speaker, this is Education Week across the Territories and across Canada. Considering all the unique educational challenges for our youth in Nunakput communities and considering that compared to the national standards...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is Education Week. This world requires many resources. Even through the buildings and books or basic supplies all schools need in today’s world, much more is needed. Our kids are increasingly left behind. In the Beaufort-Delta communities everything, our adequate, reliable housing, living programs contribute to community successful graduation rate.

Several weeks ago I mentioned in the House currently there are eight students in the Nunakput community of Sachs Harbour who, for various reasons, have left high school in Inuvik and moved back home. Reasons include...

Mr. Speaker, this government must get serious and tackle these real issues with real solutions. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was so busy reading. I would like to thank Rhea Klengenberg and Ronald Oliktoak who have been here all week paging for us, for all their hard work and long hours they’ve been putting in with us.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the recent announcement regarding the Government of the Northwest Territories intent to transfer various administrative responsibilities back to the community housing authorities is long overdue, Mr. Speaker. For years, the community governments and Members of the Legislative Assembly have been urging the government to transfer these responsibilities to the local government.

However, during the transitional implementation period, the government must seriously review the important issues that impact how effective these transfers will be.

Firstly, the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, these elders in the communities are probably not the only ones that are going through this in the communities of Tuk and the communities that I represent. I think we should go through the whole Inuvik region to see if we can send a third party in there out of Yellowknife to go and look at the customer service, get the customer service satisfaction thing out into the communities to see if the people are actually being serviced with regard to the high power rates and all these big bonuses that we have to pay every year.

What is the original rationale for the administration fee attached to 48-hour disconnect notices and is that rationale applicable today?

Does NTPC still award the management with bonuses? The perception at the community level of the Crown corporation is that it’s gouging the customers to pay senior management bonuses. Considering the poor economic opportunities, this seems to present a negative corporate image by the association of this government. I will have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time. Thank you.

On the basis of this couple having to pay this high of a power bill and having people in the communities that work for the Power Corporation on contract, maybe we should really look at seeing if these people are qualified on meter reading. Not only that, I think the Inuvik supervisors of the NTPC should really investigate this problem and actually return somebody’s calls instead of having it be brought up in the House.