Jackson Lafferty

...with the current government system. At the same time, again, this is an area that we need to seriously look at with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council. We provide funding to them so they can deliver those key deliverances into the communities and regions as well.

Yes, the Member has raised that issue in the House. At the same time, the Member should also be raising that issue with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council because we are working hand in hand with them. I need to work with them to strengthen those ties because, again, we provide funding through them to the region. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Simply, we are not forgetting the students out there. We are covering the northern students, the isolated students, and also the students of the Northwest Territories. We provide funding to the school boards so they can sponsor those students in their schools, in their regions, as well as supporting them going through a transition of another community. So those are the support mechanisms that we provide through the school boards, Mr. Speaker.

At the same time, my department is working closely with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council to make it effective and efficient when...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 22, An Act to Amend the Territorial Court Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Territorial Court Act to increase the monetary limit that applies to the civil jurisdiction of the territorial judges. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Most of the discussions we’ve heard at the regional forums are specific to that area of dealing with the ongoing child and even the two and three year olds, focussing on them because they have to start early. That is planted into the document that is going to be tabled. It does highlight the importance of starting early and having parents and educators involved and also the leaders. This is a shared responsibility. We have to do it together. Even the grandparents are involved. So, Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling the document that will highlight all the specific key points that we’ve heard...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 23, Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, be read for the first time.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This particular area is of great interest and also a priority of this government. Early childhood development and childcare has always been a priority of this government. We all know that learning starts at early ages. Part of the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, the first priority is the early childhood development and childcare.

We’ve heard over and over from the regional forums, the people of the North, the educators, the parents, that this needs to be at the forefront, the first priority. We have initiated that. This will be part of the document I will be...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Aboriginal Student Achievement Education Plan, August 2011.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. One of the ways that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has worked towards this Assembly’s goal of healthy, educated people is through the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative. Regional Aboriginal student achievement forums were an important part of this, with a final forum in May 2011. All the forums had excellent attendance and participation from the youth, elders, Aboriginal leaders, education authorities, and community leaders.

Subsequently, a meeting was held with Aboriginal government leaders, education authorities, and Aurora College to discuss...

That is the overall plan, to have the funding allocated to the communities. That’s been specified. As of July 2011 there’s been a commitment of just over $521,818 transferred to five regions and on to the communities. So it is a commitment of this government to allocate the funding to the communities so the community organizations can access the funding. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. There was funding allocated for up to $925,000 for 2011-2012 under the Small Community Employment Support Program, which is specifically for small communities that can access this funding. It is out there for the communities to access. The program has been very successful in the past year. We’ve had in 2010, $350,000 which has been increased by the recommendations of the committee.

Mr. Speaker, this is an excellent program that community organizations can access as well.