Jackson Lafferty

We do have certain programs in the school system that promote on-the-land programming and cultural orientation. We could do more in that respect. We do provide funding to the school boards to promote even more culture-based and community-based programming even at the school level. I can definitely share that with the board chairs with whom I have quarterly meetings and I can promote more of these types of important programs that should be delivered in the schools as well.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Members for bringing this motion forward on the floor. As you know, bullying is a destructive and shameful thing and we cannot tolerate it anymore.

As I stated in this House today, that at ECE we are exploring with other jurisdictions in North America their stance on bullying legislation. We are very serious about anti-bullying in our schools, in our communities, in our homes. Together, with the support of parents and community leaders, I’m confident that we can ensure that our students are safe from this type of behaviour. I’m very glad that this...

Mahsi. We have to keep in mind that there are other professions, as well, doctors degrees and other professions. It wouldn’t be fair to just highlight one profession, sponsoring the $25,000 seat, where other students are exploring and pursuing, whether it be the nursing degree, master’s program, doctors program, lawyers and so forth. So all of those professions do come back in the Northwest Territories and they contribute back to the Northwest Territories. So it’s very difficult for me as the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, to support this one specific profession on...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This particular area, the budget obviously had been cut in 2008 and for the one seat that we’re talking about, the $25,000 seat with the University of Saskatchewan, we do have currently an NWT student that’s studying at the University of Saskatchewan and the funding is not provided to the individual, but that individual will be completing academic year 2013-2014 and we’re very proud of that. There are students out there exploring those areas. So with that, I’d just like to highlight that this program was cut in 2008 as it stands. Mahsi.

Most definitely this will be one of the topics of discussion when I meet with the board chairs.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This is one of the areas that is of great interest to us, as well, since we’ve heard in the news the bullying has increased. We do currently have policies in place that deal with the local school boards, the regional school boards, but we talk about the legislation for the overall Northwest Territories. That is an area that we are exploring.

I wish to come back to the Members within six months or within a year to highlight what we found, and we are comparing with other jurisdictions as Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. We have an ongoing dialogue with them. We will provide that...

As the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, I gave a directive to the school boards, because we provide funding for culture-based programs and we noticed some of the money wasn’t being expended thoroughly into the culture-based programming. There’s been a directive given, so the school boards are fully aware that we need to do more in those areas and utilizing the elders, utilizing the community members as expertise. We will continue to push that forward with the school boards as well.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We definitely don’t accept bullying in schools. Part of the going forward basis, I guess, there are certainly individuals that we heavily depend on. There are elders in the schools that we’re going to be introducing and, as the Member alluded to, Aboriginal-speaking teachers. Most of the students look up to their teachers, look up to their siblings, as well, older siblings. That is part of the plan with the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, to introduce those individuals who are highly respected at the community level that can teach our children. That is the...

There are six universities in Canada that provide doctor of veterinary medicine programs. After consultation with the University of Saskatchewan in September 2009, after the cut in the programming budget, my department was advised by the University of Saskatchewan that they do not have the policy that would charge NWT students the out-of-province tuition and that they would look at each NWT student’s application on a case-by-case basis. So there is an opportunity there for those students.

Mr. Speaker, that is part of the plan to have full-fledged emergent programs in schools. We may not be able to cover all schools at the beginning, but that is part of the long-term plan, part of the ASA and also Aboriginal Languages Strategy. We are going through a business planning cycle. We need to identify those funds. Those two documents that I have highlighted, it is a big document. It is a long-term strategy. We will be rolling out those programs. Mahsi.