Statements in Debates
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following three documents, entitled “Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 26-17(4), Universal Affordable Daycare;” “Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 1-17(5), Sahtu Institute of Technology Planning Study;” and “GNWT Response to Motion 5-17(5), Education Renewal and Innovation.”
These are the discussions that we need to have with the community of Aklavik and the Beaufort-Delta Education Council and Public Works and Services as we move forward. These are the discussions we need to have about the needs of the community and also the school, but number one will be the safety of our students and the public safety. So, I will be keeping the Member informed of our progress. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.
We are working diligently with various agencies like education councils, the school and Public Works and Services. Solutions to this problem are being considered and recommendations will be made to the Hamlet of Aklavik. The GNWT will participate in finding solutions that will be in the best interest of safety for the students and the public at large. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.
Yes, it will take time in various areas, but we, as a department, will be working closely with the daycare operators because we want those individuals to achieve their goals and dreams of either certification, diploma or a degree program. We will be establishing up to 10 $5,000 scholarships for these individuals to access. So we’re doing what we can to send those individuals out while they’re still working. So, obviously we want to create some incentives. That’s what we’re doing and this is a process where we are currently working with the operators at this point in time. Mahsi.
The money that’s identified, once it’s passed through this House in the budget we will then be working with licensed early childhood centre operators to ensure the funding is applied directly to increasing of staff wages. So those are the targeted individuals, individuals with low wages so we can at least subsidize them. In 2014, in April, that’s when the $2 addition will be added on. The following year in April will be another $1 addition and the subsequent years will be based on certification, diplomas or degrees they’ve obtained will be waged at the top of this. Those are just the...
This is an area that I need to have a discussion with the board of governors of the college, having a direct dialogue with the board of governors and the students. We have to have an open dialogue. That’s a discussion we need to have with the board of governors, the board chairs and the president. You know I have the authority, but I need to sit down with them first to see what kind of discussions they’ve had in the past and how we can move forward. Those are discussions, and I’ve made a commitment in the House to proceed with that and I’m going to do it, Madam Speaker.
Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I have already made a commitment in the House that I will be meeting with the board of governors’ chair and also the president, both of them together, to highlight the Member’s concern that the board of governors should be meeting with the students.
I don’t want to be in a position to dictate to the board of governors or the district education councils or authorities to tell them what to do. We have to work hand in hand. We have to work closely together between the departments and agencies, so we continue to strengthen the relationship we have with the agencies and DEAs...
Those are targeted discussions that we are currently having with the various agencies, as I highlighted earlier, to deal with the measures in the communities, especially with the Hamlet of Aklavik. Recommendations and solutions will be brought to the Hamlet of Aklavik and we’ll work on those solutions. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Totally I am in support of students as first priority when it comes to safety. These are some of the discussions that have been brought to our attention from Moose Kerr School. My department is working very closely with Public Works and Services, the Beaufort-Delta Divisional Education Council and also Moose Kerr school administrators and staff to investigate the circulation of the problem, which has become an issue since the Stanton store has been open for business. Those are some of the areas in discussion with those agencies and we will continue to find solutions...
Mahsi. That’s the information and the direction that we need to work with the child care centres and especially the daycare operators. They would have a handle on how many are in the system, how many are getting their certification or diploma and the degree programs. So 2016-2017 onward we want to identify those individuals.
We have, I believe, if I’m not mistaken, approximately 30 individuals that are in the professional fields in post-secondary. Obviously, we want to attract them to the Northwest Territories to work in our centres across the Northwest Territories. So this will be an incentive...