Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I need the Minister to commit the money I need for the eight students in the community of Sachs Harbour. Like I said earlier, he is the Minister. He could try to find the funding to make this possible. You have eight students here who are not getting an education. That’s not right. If he’s not going to do it today, I am going to come back for the next 20 days of sitting and I’ll ask him in his office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Since the Minister is the Minister of Education, can the Minister direct the Beaufort-Delta education board and give them the $70,000 or whatever amount is required? Can he give them the money and the funding to get a teacher in the community for the next two and a half months?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I have the great pleasure of having youth from Ulukhaktok who are in the territorial trials here and all over the Territory in badminton, soccer and hockey.

I have Zakkery Kudlak -- and if you could stand up and say hi to home -- Zakkery Kudlak, Nathan Pogotak, Frances Himiak, Cynthia Oliktoak, Gayle Ogina, Ronald Oliktoak, Adrian Kagyut, Johnathan Kuneyuna, Bradly Olifie, Troy Akoaksion, Brian Kimiksana, Patrick Joss, my good friend Patrick Joss, and everybody knows Pat. Welcome Patrick. Kirstin Ekpakonak, Brandon Okheena, Elliot Malgukak, Kassandra Ekpakonak...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are many reasons why students in Nunakput drop out of school, but my major concern is that they do so because we are not supporting them. If we’re asking kids to stay in school, we need to step up and meet them half way. We need to provide them with resources, moral support, a good school environment, and a safe and reliable place for them to stay and live. So far we’re not providing many of these services and that is a shame.

Currently I have eight students in the Nunakput community of Sachs Harbour who, for various reasons, have left high school in Inuvik and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m really happy with the budget that’s been provided to us, especially seeing the enhancement to early childhood programming in the rural remote communities. That is really going to be a big help for the communities that I represent up and down the Valley in Tuk, Sachs, Paulatuk, Ulukhaktok, especially with the monies that we’re getting for support with…(inaudible)…support for regional sporting events. That’s going to be able to bring the youth in from the outlying communities. I think this year, Mr. Chairman, they’re heading into Fort McPherson for a soccer tournament...

I met with one of the representatives from the education board in Inuvik. They told me that they would get back to me. I didn’t meet with the board, but they already got back to me via phone and said they cannot support this position because of the funding and the community of Sachs Harbour has the student/teacher ratio already and are not required to provide a teacher. But, Mr. Speaker, there are eight students here in a community that needs a teacher for two and a half months. Will this government commit spending the money to service these eight students? They’d do it for the South Slave...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. From my Member’s statement today: Mr. Speaker, given that currently there are eight students in the Nunakput community of Sachs Harbour that have, for various reasons, left high school and moved back to Sachs Harbour -- reasons such as nowhere to live, not enough moral support or resources -- will this government immediately commit the funds and resources available for one high school teacher in Sachs Harbour for the term of about two and a half months left in the school year so they can at least earn some credits for their high school diploma? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Many of us have lived in the North all our lives, or a length of time, and have all heard the challenges, problems and statistics related to students in small, isolated communities. Hearing situations like these makes me wonder if these are some of the causes. Mr. Speaker, I’ll have questions for the Minister of ECE at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Will the government review all policies when calculating the tenants’ income with the monthly rental assessment for the NWT Housing unit, and ensure fairness and consistency regardless of who is the employer or the situation?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Housing. Given the constituents of mine are now paying over $1,000 for a bedroom in the respective communities, will the government finally conduct a thorough, comprehensive evaluation of how rent is calculated in our small, remote communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.