Monfwi

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 40)

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. We did take a good look at the overall evaluation that’s been brought to our attention. Based on the students taking the accredited programming, we’ve identified -- let’s say I can use the Phoenix School -- the operation costs we’ll cover and the number of students that are enrolled. The overall cost for a teacher to deliver those programs to a number of students that we’re going to cover. We also stated that if there are additional costs that they can substantiate, then we’ll seriously look into that as well for additional costs. That’s what we’ve done. We’ll continue to...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 40)

The adult literacy and basic education, as the Member indicated, is a review that is being undertaken right now. The final report is due later this spring, 2011. Coming out of that, of course, will be recommendations and if we need to make changes, then that will reflect on the budget as we move forward. So, Mr. Chair, the program review will be completed later this year. Mahsi.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 40)

Since last year, we went through some options and we shared that with the Members and with the various school boards as well. Those options have been pushed forward, but there are other pressing matters that are before us as well within the GNWT. We are not giving up on this. We are also continuing to examine this through our next capital planning process. So this is geared for next year because the lease is expiring next year, so we need to plan. We have been planning this fall for an extension. So we will be exploring those areas for the next capital planning process, Mr. Chair. Mahsi.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 40)

Mr. Speaker, the question has been asked in the House. I did commit to it, so we’ll follow through as soon as possible with the federal counterparts. Mahsi.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 40)

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. I guess this is also my passion. I’d love to have those elders in the school. We have to work with it with the school boards. We have asked for different options on how we can work around the system where their pensions are not clawed back. I don’t have control over the federal pension. We have to pay these elders if they want to work or else they’re not going to work. Of course, they’re penalized for that. We’ve been trying to work around the system of how we can work with them so they’re not penalized. We talk about possibly a gift to them at the end of the school year...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 40)

Mr. Chair, as I stated, these are areas that we continue to look into. To some degree, we have to be cautious of how we approach different areas of policy changes where if we allow adults to live in their parent’s or grandparent’s place, the individual could be earning a good wealth of income and others will follow. I’m just afraid of elders’ abuse, directly or indirectly, in the household, because it will be rent free for them. I can imagine in all the communities elders living in a household, they might have grandchildren living with them for a number of years and, to some degree, it may be...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 40)

The NWTTA has had funding in their budget to cover the orientation. Whether it be final for the fact that teachers in the Tlicho TCSA have been to the barren land almost every year, actually every year to introduce those new teachers and returning teachers to the land and the people of the land. They have done that over the years. This is nothing new.

We felt that as a department that we want to make this mandatory. The professional development available for teachers through NWTTA can be used to go to conferences and whatnot, but our vision, our goal was to establish an initiative such as the...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 40)

With the current funding that we provide, not funding but the in-kind services to the Mine Training Society, that’s our partnership towards that organization. The overall funding that they receive is from the federal government and there are certain criteria that they do follow, the Mine Training Society, but this is an area that we can definitely discuss with the Mine Training Society.

As you know, their program is also sunsetting next year at the end of March 2012. So that’s an area that we are also voicing our concern about, as well, with the federal government, to possibly expand or extend...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 40)

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. I think there was a commitment in the House to collaborate with health and education departments working together to identify what our options will be at that time.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 40)

Yes, we will consult with our colleagues at the federal level and see what the status is on the situation. We need to rectify the problem. If there’s an issue, then we need to follow through with it. So I will follow up with our federal counterparts. Mahsi.