Jackson Lafferty

This is a very interesting idea and suggestion. We have done some research in this area, too, and the Member provided some information on this particular subject. This is information that will be shared through engagement on the NWT educational renewal. I’m looking forward to that input from the general public and stakeholders as we move forward.

Accountability is one of the key issues that the Auditor General report specifically highlighted in her 2010 report. As we know, we need to hold students accountable for their learning and we measure through the Alberta Achievement Tests and other...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would, first of all, like to thank the Member for that question. He raises several key topics and important issues. I’m glad to have the opportunity to address the NWT education renewal initiative that my department has undertaken. There are many factors. Several factors indicate that education in the NWT must change. As the Member puts it, pulling us to change. There are several types of assistance and large scale services that show our students are not achieving at anywhere near the levels that they should be. These also include Alberta Achievement Tests and functioning...

I do not have the specific detailed information I can provide to Members, but if I recall, there’s well over 400 registered apprentices in the Northwest Territories, and journeymen ticket holders as well. But I can provide the detailed information with accurate documentation.

With the devolution and decentralization into the regions, that’s a discussion we’ve been having, even since visiting Ottawa for NWT Days, having those positions transferred into the regions and into the communities. I believe that that’s the wish of this government, so we’ll continue to strive towards that.

With the...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Member for asking that question. I had an opportunity this morning to speak to that labour force symposium that’s happening over the next two days. We have over 80 delegates. What we talked about at that level was partnership across the Northwest Territories, across the national stage. That’s what it comes down to with five regional training committees that have been established in partnership with ECE, ITI, and also Aboriginal organizations, industry, the Mine Training Society and also the college.

They work on a regular basis to address regional...

It’s very important that we collaborate and form partnerships with interdepartmental discussion on this important matter because it will take more than just one department. We have to work with the Department of Health and Social Services and other departments. It has a ripple effect, as well, and we’re very positive that we want to deliver the key messages that we need to make some changes that reflect on these important areas.

This is an area that I need to work with closely with the Social Programs committee and also with my department and the other departments as well. My department and DM...

One of our focuses is the Early Childhood Development Framework that we’ve been working on for quite some time now. It’s been over a decade and it is now before us as a result of the research that we are seeing. Those are some of the focuses that we are currently working on. That is why we are engaging into our plan to renew the Early Childhood Development Framework that’s in the process.

Just having an elders gathering, I think we had roughly 80 to 100 elders from all regions gathered for two or three days to hear their input. The following week we had over 80 stakeholders to listen to their...

Those are the discussions that we need to have within my department and with the school board as well. What it comes down to is the needs of the community, the number of students.

I did commit to the Member that I will be visiting the community, and highlighting the Trout Lake School and how we can take that matter forward. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Again, it’s based on the capacity of the students in the schools for the Northwest Territories. We deal with 49 schools and the Charles Tetcho School was constructed in 1993, so it is almost 20 years now and that’s an area that we need to re-evaluate, the number of students in a school and also the population in a community.

Again, I will be visiting the community and looking at the school, and we can discuss further what the next steps should be. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our government believes NWT residents can reach their potential and be healthy, educated people, free from poverty. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment continues to work with industry stakeholders to improve the opportunities for training, education and employment across the Northwest Territories.

In 2011 the department held its first Labour Force Development Symposium, which was used as a platform to introduce the first NWT Labour Force Development Framework – People, Partnerships, Possibilities. It is a tool for working together towards...

Mr. Speaker, currently we have the school in Trout Lake. We have students learning in Trout Lake; 20 students that are registered in school. We do have a facility. It may not be a fancy facility, but this is an area that we are closely monitoring. At the same time, this is an area that I’ve been pushing my department, especially for small schools, how we can expedite this process.

When it comes to capital infrastructure, every year we go through that. We push through various schools to be included in the capital planning process. Unfortunately, there are other pressing needs, other pressing...