Mr. Speaker, this continues to be a very exciting time for education in not only the North but the entire country. Through our Education Renewal and Innovation work, we are recognizing how people learn, what supports are needed to help them learn and how we can improve education for all students.

We developed the Education Renewal and Innovation (ERI) Initiative to make that improvement happen. Our newly released framework, Directions for Change, highlights the potential initiatives we know can make a difference in the lives of our students. A world leader on self-regulation, Dr. Stuart Shanker...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, titled “Education Renewal and Innovation Engagement Update 2014.” Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

I did highlight the actual numbers of the pupil-teacher ratio for year one, year two and year three. The PTR is still above the legislated mandate, so we are working towards that. We just have to be mindful that we are beyond the legislated mandate. I can also provide to the Members the breakdown with the actual numbers of the phase-in approach for year one, year two, year three, starting this fall. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have the specific detail of date that we met with the board chairs. I met with the board chairs to introduce the Early Childhood Development Framework and along with that was introducing junior kindergarten, but I can provide the Member with the exact dates of when that occurred, along with other engagements that we have initiated with the board chairs, the superintendents. Later on today I will be tabling the document of engagement. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

There is a breakdown for all the school boards, the 33 communities that we service. As I stated, some will be decreased, some will have a net increase in their formula funding, but the less minimal impact would be up to 1.5 percent, and I’m sure that’s manageable within the administration of the school boards.

When it comes to, let’s say, Yellowknife Catholic School Board, in 2014-15 there will be a decrease of $434,000, projected ’15-16 there will be a decrease of $264,000, projected ’16-17 will be $484,000 that will be given to the school board. It does vary between the school boards. In the...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The rolling out of the junior kindergarten starting this new school year, 2014-15, will cover 29 schools, and then the following year it would be the regional centres, and then the third year will be covering all of Yellowknife. It is a three-year approach, and it will cover all communities, all schools, the 49 schools that we’ve been talking about, the 33 communities. There’s going to be some decrease and increase into our formula when we deal with the school boards, so it does reflect on that as well.

Mr. Speaker, the daycare centres can convert four-year-old spaces to spaces for children zero to three. The Member is asking about a risk assessment. The program operators simply need to contact their regional early childhood consultant to work with them – all those daycare operators – to make necessary changes to convert the four-year-old space to accommodate younger children. So those are areas we are working closely with them.

We also provide additional funding of an additional $780 to convert each four-year-old space to an under-24-month space. This investment should comfortably cover the...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize some of the people in the gallery. First and foremost is Ms. Joyce Rabesca of Behchoko. She’s also an entrepreneur in the community of Behchoko. I’d like to welcome her. Also, the honourable Mr. Paul Okalik. He’s also responsible for Culture, Labour and Immigration and Official Languages. Welcome. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, again, with a coordinated effort and approach, we need to keep track of all the transactions that are happening within my department. I need to be on top of any request that comes in through an MLA so we are on top of answering their questions. We give immediate answer back, within five days. If it is a day-based operation, then we can definitely give it in a day. It is just a reporting mechanism, keeping track of all the transactions that are flowing through our department within the GNWT government-wide. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Ms. Bisaro on February 7, 2014, regarding reallocation of funds for junior kindergarten. Ms. Bisaro requested a breakdown, by department, showing where the reallocated $1.8 million in funding to implement junior kindergarten in 2014-15 in our smallest NWT communities will be found.

Mr. Speaker, the $1.8 million to implement the optional, play-based Junior Kindergarten Program for four-year-olds in 29 small communities across the Northwest Territories in 2014-15 will be sourced from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

Ms...