Jackson Lafferty

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.

The only assurance I can give is that’s our goal as a department, to complete the overall review by early next year; for next school year, if that’s possible. That is our goal. I cannot guarantee that it will be done before next school year, but our department will do what it can to reach out to the students, the parents, the public, to hear their perspective. In order to make those changes, we want to reflect on all the needs that will be addressed. Definitely that’s our goal.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We are aware of the situation and the only way we can review and make some possible changes is through the review of SFA that will currently be underway in September of this year, and completion we’re hoping for next year.

This individual is into her second year, and the following year will be third year. We’re aware of the situation and we want to do what we can to support all students in the Northwest Territories.

The cap is there -- $60,000 -- and the policy states that, and it’s fair to all the students across the board as well. We are aware, again, and SFA is currently...

Mahsi, 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 second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill pertains to an action of the Government of the Northwest Territories against the manufacturer of tobacco products for the recovery of the cost of health care benefits caused or contributed to by a tobacco related wrong. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Part of the recommendations brought to our attention was that matter from my departmental briefing. I will be going through the recommendations and possibly making those changes as we move forward. They are recommendations brought to our attention and we are currently reviewing it. This matter will be before the 17th Assembly as well as the new government, so we’ll do what we can as the department of the day.