Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I do reflect on the Member asking that particular question. I don’t have the information here, the latest status, but I can provide that as soon as possible.

We provide detailed information to the Member. He alluded to the 81 students. We should be proud of those students advancing their education whether it’s through Aurora College or adult learning centres in communities. Obviously, we want them to succeed even further, whether it is trades accessing programming or whatever. The Member asked what happens for them in Grade 12. Obviously, we want to have supporting mechanisms in place for them through the high school programming or even the college. We are currently working very closely with the college, as well, to provide those supports. Even...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Part of the lease costs for NUP is approximately $964,000 base rate. Of course, there is O and M, as well, $1.2 million on average. Actually, per annum would be $2.235 million a year. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Most definitely, we are using telehealth. The Member mentioned Sachs could be a challenge, but we are fully aware that the Beaufort-Delta on the e-learning and other technology enhancement that they’ve had, they’ve been dealing with the telehealth in their schools as well. Those are some of the accessible technologies that we have, so we’ll take full advantage of it. We have and we will continue to do so.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. This particular area obviously falls under productive choices within income security. We support individuals who want to go out on the land. We have to work with organizations as well. If they have to handle a chainsaw, a rifle or a snowmobile, those are some liabilities we have encountered in the past, but we have always worked around other organizations, whether it is the band council or hamlet council or other agencies in the community. Those are some areas we have assisted in. Perhaps it is two months of income assistance if they want to go out on the land, so we’ve done...

We need to get that information from the school boards, the detailed information. I don’t have it in front of me today. Based on our contribution, it is specifically to hire elders in schools. In the 37 communities I have highlighted, the $400,000 has been disbursed to the school boards and it’s at their discretion to hire the elders through our contribution. Mahsi.

I agree with the Member that it needs to be updated. The numbers, if it’s well off, then it needs to be addressed. I will be addressing that with the board of governors. I will be meeting with them. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Inclusive schooling, as Members know, is a territory-wide funding allocation to the school boards. I don’t have the detailed breakdown of all the districts, but we cover most of the schools and the school boards we have to work with. Based on that, there is a breakdown from the school boards to the schools and agencies they work with. It could be complex information that we can share with Members, but I just have the breakdown of the school district, whether it be Beaufort-Delta, Commission scolaire, Dehcho, Sahtu, South Slave, Tlicho, YSC, YK No. 1, Detah and Ndilo, for a...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. As you know, we just heard an announcement last week. It is a federal program. Income support obviously will be prepared for any impacts when it comes to EI recipients. They’ve extended longer hours, but I believe, from my understanding maybe with Minister Kenney, there is the two-phase approach, Yellowknife and then small communities on unemployment rates. Based on that, I believe it’s 8 percent hovering around Yellowknife and it’s around 20, 30 or 40 percent depending on the communities. He obviously stated that there won’t be much of an impact on the small communities, but...

As I stated, part of our contribution is to all school boards. There are approximately 37 communities, but we deal with all the school boards, the $400,000. At their discretion, they hire elders on an as-needed basis, as well, so this is an initial step for us as a department. We’ve never had this before. We feel we need to have more presence in our school systems. Our prime focus is increasing this over time. Mr. Chair, all I can say at this point is our contribution is towards all the school boards. Currently, we have 37 communities that are accessing it. Obviously, we want all schools to be...