Jackson Lafferty

Mr. Speaker, this is an area that I’m fully committed. The Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, I’m looking forward to the Members’ discussion at that level when we’re in the Beaufort-Delta in May, along with other discussions, the solutions that will be brought to the table and this will definitely be a part of it. We’ve heard from other Sahtu and other regions as well about the boarding and also the Deh Cho. I’m glad the Member is raising that issue and I’m looking forward to that discussion in May. Mahsi.

Mahsi. It is our department that is responsible to deliver these programs into the schools. Again, I have to reiterate that we need to work with Alberta and also the DEAs and DECs. Having those initiatives, not only that, but the Aboriginal student achievement that’s underway, they’ve discussed that as well, having a residential school era in our school system, land claims, self-government. We’re introducing to our social program development area within the curriculum. So we are listening to the people and those will be written out after this fiscal year. It will take some time, but we will...

Mr. Speaker, this is an area that we can explore. We have explored other areas as well, and the policy development or establishment, and made some changes and amendments to certain policies. When it comes to student-teacher ratio, we’ve made some changes in the past that reflect on whether it be the inclusive schooling or other programming area. I’m committed that we can look at this area and if we need to make changes, I’ll definitely notify the standing committee, my colleagues, to say if we need to do this, we need to start planning together with the district education council and also with...

Mr. Speaker, I too will continue to push for my colleagues on the pressing matters that are before us with the capital plan projects. Trout Lake, I am looking forward to the community visits. I definitely will be visiting the school and see the outcome of our discussion at that point and stage. Mahsi.

Each jurisdiction provides their own issues or challenges before two federal Ministers along with provincial and territorial Ministers. Saskatchewan and other jurisdictions have their own. We want to take advantage of that so we don't reinvent the wheel and see if they can fit into our judicial system as well, our justice system. Those are areas we are exploring. That’s what I was referring to, was that we bring our acts and legislation into play at the national stage and bring that information back so we can establish that type of system here in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I totally agree that we need to focus on all schools in the Northwest Territories. We will continue to push where the priorities lie. I agree that we need to focus on the communities that we represent. Mahsi.

Those are the areas that we continue to get complaints from various parties and we deal with them either through the employers or through our Justice department. The avenue they may have with respect to certain types of complaints that may be brought forward, it all depends on the case-by-case basis. We need to work with those individuals as the need arises. Again it can be an interdepartmental initiative as well. Our Justice department is available to the general public if there are any issues pertaining to that and also with Human Resources.

Mr. Speaker, the solutions are still coming at us from the regional forums that we have initiated. We visited four regions already, including Yellowknife, and also two more upcoming, Beaufort-Delta and also South Slave where Mr. Beaulieu will be part of that process, as well, along with other MLAs. It is at the preliminary stages right now, but in due time, in May session we are hoping to table the document and that information will be available to the general public. There are a lot of solutions in that package that will come out of that. Mahsi.

I’m fully committed to working towards the planning stages. We are at that point where we’re working towards the capital planning projects. I did indicate in this House that I’m committed to working towards that and identifying dollars. The planning stages are in play and the capital planning process will be before us this summer. We’ll move forward in this regard as a discussion and then see what comes out of that. If we need to allocate funding, then definitely we’ll talk about that at that time.

Mr. Speaker, I don’t have the detailed information before me now. I can get that information for the Member. I understand that there has been some improvement in absenteeism, because the school board has developed initiatives to deal with absenteeism because it is a big issue in the small, isolated communities. We are currently discussing that with the various school boards across the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.