Jackson Lafferty

Mr. Speaker, bullying is a broad societal problem and a very serious issue in our schools that Education, Culture and Employment is dedicated to addressing.

On February 16, 2012, the Legislative Assembly passed an anti-bullying motion, calling on the department to establish a territory-wide campaign to denounce bullying, and review anti-bullying legislation in other jurisdictions and bring forward a bill for consideration by the Assembly within 18 months.

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to announce that later today I will move first reading of a bill to amend the Education Act that will include bullying...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “Aboriginal Achievement Initiative Education Plan - Status Update March 2013.” Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Very direct. This is an area that I need to work closely with the DECs and DEAs. If there is a requisition from the DEA, whether it be busing services, then it goes to the DEC and then we sit down and discuss the priorities for the region. Part of the formula funding would cover assets such as busing and other programming into the communities. I need to work closely with the school boards to make this a reality, and if it’s the wish of the DEA, then we need to work towards that.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12 extensions into the communities have worked out well in most of the communities. Some of the communities are still struggling, especially isolated communities where they may not be able to deliver academic courses. At the same time, there is a model in play in the Beaufort-Delta, e-learning. It’s a new topic of discussion we are having now. We feel we need to expand that more into the communities, especially the isolated communities. So those are areas that we are currently exploring, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

We are putting a lot of pressure on the federal government. We’ve met with the CEO of NCS. There’s another meeting on June 3rd to deal with that matter. There’s been a proposal submitted by NCS for upgrading equipment and so forth. Part of that discussion is the $6,000 maximum that we’ve been allowing to the communities.

Again, the Member has raised a point of possibly reviewing the program. That’s a commitment I’m making, that we’ll be re-evaluating our contribution. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I agree that radio is an effective means of communicating throughout the Northwest Territories and we must support that in any means we possibly can. There’s also a federal partnership. The federal government contributes to NCS and we contribute up to $6,000 per community for the operation. The Member is asking why it hasn’t been increased. This is an area that we can definitely look at. Again, it’s based on our agreement with the federal government and our funding within the GNWT. So this is an area we can definitely look at. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Education Act, be read for the first time. Mahsi.

The busing, it is covered through the formula funding, and again, I need to work closely with the school boards. If it is a priority of the school board, then they need to identify the funding. We also, through the school boards, provide additional funding to small communities where enrolment may be not as high, so they can provide the funding towards that, busing and other such services. I will continue to work with the Member and also the school board to make this a reality.

I don’t have the detailed breakdown of the actual cost per student to be housed where they are attending school, but I can provide that to the Member. Part of the formula funding would cover that. We work closely with the DEAs and DECs to capture those students that may have to go to Inuvik to attend school, or McPherson or surrounding communities. Those are areas where we continue to work for the school boards. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, June 3rd is a meeting with the CEO of NCS. I do believe that type of discussion will take place. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.