Jackson Lafferty

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment works with all students. I know some students are struggling with their daily living allowance. That’s the very reason we are reviewing the SFA program. The current policy exists today that we have to follow. We cannot break the policy as it stands. We can amend that policy.

As we conduct the overall review and see the results of the recommendations in due time, we can make those changes. In the current time we’ll continue to work with the student and other students, as well, where they can access other potential funding that may be available...

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 23 moved into Committee of the Whole. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted

As I stated, the recommendations are before me now and it will be part of as we move into the 17th Assembly government. We’re at the tail end of our 16th Assembly. There are only a few more days here. I will be reviewing it, and if we need to make those changes, we’ll definitely work on that.

Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to proceed with the second reading of Bill 23, Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act.

---Consent granted

There is a process that we need to follow. I haven’t looked at those recommendations as of yet but I will be reviewing them. When it comes to making those changes, we have to consider all options as we move forward.

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.