Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Mr. Peter Huskey, who is here with us today. Welcome. He is from Behchoko and actively involved with the meetings that are occurring. I’d just like to welcome him here. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is committed to continually improving our education systems, including curricula.

The department is implementing a new student information system for all schools in the Northwest Territories. The new system will hold functional grade levels, Alberta Achievement Test results, student support plans, classroom assessment and student attendance together in a single student’s electronic file. This will allow schools, school boards and the department to more accurately track student information and assist in the overall accountability...

Mahsi. Yes, I did commit to re-evaluating that particular program as part of the Yamozha Kue Society and considering delivering that same or advanced-level courses into the Aboriginal language groups, into the communities. So that is our overall goal, is to capture the regions to the best of our ability as we were doing with the ALCIP program. So we’ll continue to address those needs. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Language is very important to all the departments, especially when it comes to terminology, interpreting different words. We are currently working with each department, such as the Department of Health and Social Services more specifically dealing with the regional health authorities. Stanton has hired on-call interpreters, as well, even translators. So each department has their own roles and responsibilities to hire their interpreters and we do what we can as a department to identify the needs.

At times we did receive requests from constituencies across the Northwest...

Mahsi, Madam Chair. We are fully aware of the Auditor General’s recommendations that were brought to our attention. We are fully implementing the recommendation with all the action plans that will be before us. We are serious about the inspections and we are doing what we can to follow through with each and every one of them. We were given some instruction on focusing more on early childhood development, so that’s what we’re doing with our internal resources. We will be focusing on that as one of our priorities.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is committed to improving educational outcomes for all students of the Northwest Territories. We have developed new curricula that will be introduced in the fall.

As part of our efforts to develop culturally appropriate and engaging learning opportunities for our students, Northern Studies 10 includes a new focus on the history and legacy of residential schools in Canada. Optional implementation of the new course will begin with the 2012-13 school year and become mandatory in 2013-14.

Consultations are underway for the proposed...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize Marie Wilson, commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I would just like to say thank you for doing such great work on behalf of all the survivors in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi and welcome. Also the team as well. I would also like to recognize Mr. Anthony Whitford, whose birthday is today. Welcome.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Through the divisional education councils in the regions we monitor those students that are graduating from secondary school. Post-secondary is a bit different. Students are on their own, but we track them through student financial assistance. Once they’re sponsored by the department, we know who those students are, which field they’re in, the year they’re in the program. We’re definitely keeping track of secondary and their pursuance of which program they’re interested in. That is information that is available through the divisional education councils as well.

Mahsi. This is an area where we need to work with Skills Canada. We provide funding to them. I believe its $80,000 on an annual basis and they also have corporate sponsors to bring in those individuals or send those individuals out, those talented Northwest Territories individuals. But I am pursuing this in looking further into potentially having those individuals from the Northwest Territories, maybe one per region, just for exposure at the national stage. They may not be competing, but to see them in action. So those are the areas that I seriously want to look at and possibly having those...

Since it’s Friday, we have to all think positive and, definitely, it’s doable. It’s an initiative. It’s an opportunity that we need to work together, a collaborative approach to monitor those students that have graduated this year, where they’re going to be next year, the next five years, 10 years. Definitely, we’ll do our part and work with the communities in the regions. Mahsi.