Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi. The SFA program that we deliver in the Northwest Territories, as I’ve stated so many times, this is one of the best benefit programs for student financial assistance across Canada and internationally. So, this will continue to push that forward. Those are some of the areas that may not offset the overall costs of the student achieving their tickets or their diploma, certifications or degrees. There are other subsidies, the scholarships are out there and other benefits that are out there. Some, obviously, work part time as well. There are various venues that individuals can access. So...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The whole education renewal innovation, the whole purpose is to deal with that, the education achievement gap with the NWT students. We’re responsible for all students in the Northwest Territories. So there are Aboriginal students and non-Aboriginal students, but we’re responsible for all of them. So this education renewal will capture that. Those are the discussions that we’ve been having. Since the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, the Early Childhood Development Framework and now Education Renewal Innovation. So this is a particular area where we’re focusing on...

As you know, we haven’t really rolled out the program yet. It will be this September. We’re at the point where we are working with those operators such as Head Start programming and also the preschools and other licenced early childhood development programs in our communities and those communities that do not have it. As I stated, we have an early childhood consultant who is working very closely with the communities. We want this program to be very successful. It’s a three-year phased-in approach. We want this Head Start program, preschool obviously, enhanced as well. We will be working...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Clearly, junior kindergarten is optional to the parents. It’s up to the parents to choose where their kids should be going. Obviously, we support the preschoolers who are out there in the communities such as Hay River, Yellowknife and other communities. We continue to support that. We provide funding through various programs we have within ECE and the Health department and other areas and we continue to sponsor those.

This is just an enhancement for the preschoolers who are out there and it is an option for the parents. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Madam Chair. This particular motion that’s before us has been debated for a number of years now.

[Translation] This bill is very important and it’s been very, very… We’ve been talking about it since 2005 until now, and especially since I’ve been elected we’ve been in discussions about it twice. We also wanted an extra MLA for the Tlicho region. In 2013 they wanted 19, 20 and 21. They also went to Rae region to ask the people and a lot of people attended the meeting at that time. So the Tlicho citizens want an extra MLA in their region and the elders have also requested that. In the...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 25, An Act to Amend the Education Act, be read for the first time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Initially the department has had an exploratory discussion with the Hay River District Education Authority, the Yellowknife Education District No. 1 and also Commission scolaire francophone to determine whether or not alternatives to the court order could be found in both communities.

These are the discussions that we’ve been having with both communities and the government has a responsibility to work with its partners to ensure that school facilities are used in the most cost effective and efficient way. The discussions we’ve been having since September until this last...

I did already commit that last week to Member Bouchard, so I’ll definitely provide that detailed information to the Member.

As I stated earlier, Hay River Commission and the YK No. 1 have all stated no to the school swap at this point, and I realize that YK No. 1 is still engaging, but March 24th has been a deadline because we still have to go through the appeal process and it is before us and that’s the next couple of weeks. What I’ll be presenting to the Cabinet colleagues will be what’s going to be happening for the next step, and it’s still to be seen. Those are the discussions that we need to have as a government. As part of the capital planning process, what should the next step be?

I can’t really speak to that at this point because we still have to make a decision to move forward on this particular subject. At the same time, there is an appeal process that’s happening as well. All those will come into play, but the specifics of the capital infrastructure, the discussion will be brought to the Cabinet colleagues and then we will let the Members know what will be the next phase of the approach.