Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I’d like to say thank you to the Members. This is the last budget process for Dana Heide and Gabriela Eggenhofer. I would like to thank them and wish them the best of luck. They will be retiring in 2015, so mahsi cho.

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Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Since we introduced the Early Childhood Worker Grant Program we had just around 200 applicants from across the Northwest Territories and we’re almost at 100 percent in the approval process. It’s been very, very successful to date even though it’s very preliminary. But over 200 applications came in and most of them will be approved, so we should be close to, if not 100 percent, close to 100 percent. We’re very happy with the progress that we’ve made on this particular matter.

We will be closely monitoring those areas to the best of our ability within my department and there will be other departments that I’m sure will be doing the same thing as well.

Again, the Aboriginal broadcasting, even at the local level is very important for the community and also my department. We’ve heard Mr. Blake’s challenge. There have been some issues with the tower. We are working with that. We do have program funding, but we don’t necessarily have infrastructure funding. We’re seeing what’s the best solution addressing this within my department and working very closely with the community, and we will continue to update the Member on this particular matter because we want it up and running again along with others such as CKLB and important Aboriginal...

Chevron has made a total commitment of $410,000 towards these different iPads for new parents. We as a department are contributing $750,000 towards this initiative, as well, as our contribution. This is an initiative that has been in the works for a number of years now. Finally it’s here, so we are moving forward at the end of this month and in the fall, as well, for new parents. Mahsi.

Obviously, literacy is one of our top priorities within our department. We’ve heard over and over from committee members that we need to focus on developing literacy programming and having partners involved. So, this is involving NGOs from across the Northwest Territories, working with Aurora Collage as well, and again NGOs, to deliver various programs from K to 12 equivalent courses and having the NWT Literacy Council actively engaged in this, as well, because they represent all the communities as well.

I believe that more investment in this area will be seeing positive results. We have seen...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Most definitely we can provide that information. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I believe this is a great idea and we need to start talking not only with Inuvik but other regions as well. The more healthy food that we can have into our school system, the better for our children to learn. Having dedicated resources towards this type of initiative, obviously that would be considered as we move forward. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Every year we go through these changes. It’s all based on FTEs, enrollment total and if that changes then obviously the budget changes and that reflects on the total enrollment. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. We’re just looking for detailed information on the actual delivery through Aurora College. There have been some programs in addition to what we’ve had before, where we had certification in early childhood programming. Through our southern institution partners, we’ve also been involved and engaged with developing diploma programming. That’s still in the early stages. Those are just some of the discussions that we’re currently having. We’re just trying to get the most detailed information from the college, what they currently deliver, and we can provide that information to the...