Jackson Lafferty

We’ll definitely do that with the community of Hay River and also the surrounding small communities that the Member alluded to earlier.

There has been a survey in the past, when we started the discussion on grade extension. We can reopen that dialogue with the communities, especially with the parents. I would like to hear from the parents, the school board chairs, the superintendents, the educators and the grandparents how they feel about having regional high schools in another part of the community to send their kids over there. By all means, I will be more than happy to have this dialogue happening in the communities through the school board chairs and the school board directors.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize some of the recipients that are here in the gallery. First of all I’d like to recognize the Youth category, Justin Memogana is here with us from Kugluktuk. His brother Chad is here with us as well. Also, the Elder’s category that is here with us, Emily Kudlak from Ulukhaktok as well. In the Group category I’d like to recognize from the Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute Alestine Andre, Bertha Francis, Ingrid Kritsch and Robert Alexie Sr., who are here with us today. Also, Minister’s Choice, Yellowknife Choral Society, and here...

More options, I totally agree with that. That’s why we’re looking at various programming such as I mentioned. E-learning is just one of the examples that the Beaufort-Delta has been very successful; also, the tutoring in the South Slave region. Those are just some of the areas that we continue to push.

With respect to some of the areas for funding allocation, we provide funding to DECs, district education councils, on an annual basis, based on enrolment, and part of that has been distributed to district education authorities so they can expend at their pleasure. We provide funding on an annual...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I, too, would like to recognize from the school, Aurora College, the students and also the young person, how they formed the lifeguard, I would like to thank them and also thank the grandparents, Gabrielle and Patrick, and also their daughter. I would like to recognize them. She is from Yellowknife but she’s living in Yellowknife. I would like to thank them. Mahsi.

As I indicated, Alberta is changing their Education Act as well. The Alberta achievement test may be in a different format, some sort of an assessment that we need to follow as a guideline. We’ve done that for the past how many years now and with this whole Education Renewal Initiative and the Early Childhood Development Framework, that will definitely improve our education system throughout the Northwest Territories, K to 12, even at that early age. At that point in time, those individuals that are doing their 3, 6 and 9 assessment tests, we’re hoping that it will improve over the years.

So...

Mahsi. We are closely monitoring Alberta education changes. There are changes that are coming and we’re monitoring very closely. The Alberta achievement test, it’s also changing in their jurisdiction. So how it’s going to look, we’re not sure at this point, but we are working closely with them and there are various assessment tools that we use within the schools within the Northwest Territories as well. Assessing students will continue to be a priority of this government, this department. The education system will not change as a result of the Education Renewal and Innovation Initiative that’s...

Mr. Speaker, bullying is a complex social issue and has potentially devastating effects on student achievement, attendance and mental health. Unfortunately, we have all seen the most shattering results of bullying across Canada, and we are focused on ensuring this does not happen in the NWT. Everyone has a role to play in making sure our residents are safe and feel safe in their communities, at home, and at school.

We responded to a motion for anti-bullying legislation by proposing amendments to the Education Act in the spring session. This includes a definition of bullying and cyber-bullying...

Mahsi. We’ve also done our research, as well, throughout Canada, national and also international research. We also sought out some information and ideas from positions from the northern people and provided direction for the changes that we need.

The Education Renewal Initiative is based on the fact that we need to change our educational system and share in the feedback of the general public, the parents, the grandparents, our educators, who feel that we need to change our educational system. We’ve heard over and over from Regular Members on can we improve in those areas so our Grade 12 students...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Part of the education renewal is to look further into our educational system, how we can improve the programming and the courses that are being delivered, especially in the small, isolated communities. It has been brought to our attention in this House and by Assembly Members, as well, that we need to improve our education system. That’s where we’re at.

We have reached out and gauged the general public, the parents and educators, to hear their views about where we should improve. Some of the highlights that they’ve come across are: system accountability; professional...