Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. The revised version of 2006 we can certainly provide that for Members for their review.

Mahsi, Madam Chair. To my left is Gloria Iatridis, acting deputy minister of Education, Culture and Employment; and Mr. Paul Devitt, director of strategic business services. Mahsi.

This is an area that we’ve discussed within our department and even as far as a Cabinet discussion how we can deal with this matter. I’ve given my direction to my department that we need to explore it even further how we distribute funds on inclusive schooling to the school boards, whether it be based on percentage, and how can we deliver it even more effectively. The funding, the $26 million over all. We need to review that again within my department and working with the school boards. It has to be a united approach because we are dealing with the 33 communities and a population of 40,000...

Yes, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I am pleased to present the 2012-13 main estimates for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

The work of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is guided by the department’s strategic plan and the priorities of the 17th Assembly. Our vision is one of northern people leading fulfilled lives and contributing to a strong and prosperous society.

The proposed 2012-13 main estimates for Education, Culture and Employment total $289.107 million. This is an increase of 1 percent over the previous year’s main estimates.

Arts and culture provide...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My understanding is it’s a certification program and it’s part of the on-line program that’s been delivered and it’s in association with Yukon College. It’s in partnership with them that we have this particular program.

Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of the year, every time we go through the capital planning process, we have identified various capital needs in the communities. When it comes to discussion at the regional level and also within the department there are some areas that don’t make it through the system within the process itself, but we will continue to push these further into the capital planning process, pending the criteria that has been outlined by part of the criteria for the schools as planning process.

This is an area that we continuously work with the superintendents and also the board...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Early childhood development and the early years of learning in kindergarten are a priority for the department. As we are all aware, healthy childhoods are the best foundations to develop healthy, productive adults.

The departments of Education, Culture and Employment and Health and Social Services are revamping the 2001 Early Childhood Development Framework for Action. To assist with the work, the departments reviewed the programs and services called for in the framework. And we’ve looked at other Canadian programs, policies and literature.

As Members know, we are working to...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and to have Bill 1 moved into Committee of the Whole.

---Unanimous consent granted

Before the end of session I will get back to the Member on the status, what my department is pursuing on this particular subject on the Safe Schools Policy and working with the YK District No. 1 and other research that we’ve done within Canada and will provide that information to the Members.

With specifics to the NWTTA negotiations that were undergoing and the conclusion of that, the Member is asking for specific information on this which I don’t have in front of me, but I will be more than happy to get back to the Member on what is the status on those initiatives that were discussed at that point.