Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We did receive a letter from various school boards identifying the costs of dealing with special needs. It is across the board in the Northwest Territories, not just one organization, but, Mr. Speaker, we did increase the inclusive schooling. Since 2005 until today there’s been a substantial increase in various locations within the school divisions. So, Mr. Speaker, we are looking at this very closely and we are currently dealing with enrolment issues that are challenging us right now and I think we need to focus in that area as well. But at the same time we’re currently...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The particular investigation, of course, is under the RCMP “G” Division. At the same time, there are avenues that individuals can pursue. One of the avenues that is always open is the Public Complaints Commission. That is an avenue that we encourage people to apply if they are not satisfied with the outcome, whether it be an investigation at the local level, at the district level or even at the headquarter level. But those are just the avenues that we usually send them to first at the local level and then, if they are not satisfied, then the Public Complaints Commission is...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we can certainly do that for next year, break it down so it’s more clear for the Members. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to infrastructure, we do not provide the funds for infrastructure in the communities when it comes to a daycare establishment or a facility. However, we do provide funding to offset the cost of rent or mortgage expenses and also the start-up of a facility or operation costs. Mr. Speaker, just for the Member’s awareness, that we are looking at moving early childhood into schools since enrolment is down in the Northwest Territories. So that is an option that we are throwing around so we can deal with the enrolment issues in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. We are working on that review of the disability portfolio area. As soon as that’s done, that’s part of the planning process for next year’s business cycle. Once we’re done with that we can share that information with the standing committee on what needs to take place at the next level.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are educational plans underway in several of the regions. That information can be shared with the Member and also education boards as well. So we can continue to talk in that area on where we can improve the program delivery, whether it be the child care subsidy or the operation costs or the school system itself. So, yes, Mr. Speaker, we can continue with discussions going forward. Mahsi.

This should give us some time to review the overall plan of the Yellowknife Campus itself. With the outcome of the review, that should give us an indication of where we need to go next and the negotiations stages start from there. It’s going to be just less than two years going forward. So it may or may not be enough time to put a package together, but we’ll do what we can out of the review and then get together as a department, but we can update the Members as we progress forward. Mahsi.

I thought we were transferring that program and the money is still here, so that’s a good sign that the money is still with us. But it’s in the transition period. We are going to be transferring the program over to the NWT Housing Corporation. We’re looking at possibly between June and August or September, because there are a lot of details that need to be worked out. We’re still working closely with the NWT Housing Corporation on identifying those individuals and also LHOs at the community level are taking on the additional workload. There are still a lot of areas that need to be fleshed out...

Mr. Speaker, We can’t say that we force students to attend the campuses in the Northwest Territories. We like for them to attend. They have opportunity to go to NAIT, SAIT, elsewhere, but they have to cover their own costs as well. We provide savings to these individuals coming to the Northwest Territories. We have to take that into effect when we spend over millions on updating or upgrading our equipment that produces these talented individuals in the Northwest Territories and are working for us in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. The college campus itself in Yellowknife is part of the education plan review that’s being undertaken right now and that should be completed by April and we can share with the Members in due time. Mahsi.