Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi. The new legislation has amended sections 34 and 45 of the Education Act to require educators and school administrators to strengthen policies and procedures, a law that involves bullying and safety. That’s the very reason why we’ve developed a Safe and Caring Schools Initiative and having the DEAs and DECs having their own protocols, having their own policies and regulations to deal with their discipline as well.

When it comes to bullying, it is a priority of this government and we continue to push that forward with all the education bodies across the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.

Madam Chair, since we’ve been in discussion with CKLB, capital infrastructure has been brought to our attention on numerous occasions. Obviously the federal government plays a key part in this.

My department, obviously, provided support. So the organization can submit a contribution proposal to CanNor. We’re providing support at that level, even as far as developing a business case proposal to be submitted to CanNor. That’s what my department is offering, as much support to deal with those matters at the federal level. We’re behind CKLB when we’re speaking to the federal government. When I met...

Mahsi. As I stated, the parents are also engaged when it comes to bullying because they need to be involved, they need to be engaged and there is a standard process that’s in play with the DECs and DEAs. Whenever there is a bullying incident that happens, we involve the parents, we involve the educators, the community members, even the community leaders to that matter.

So those are just some of the processes that we are currently following, and we provide resources to the school boards as well. Some of the resources, obviously, are Creating a safe School Environment, some of the pamphlets...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. When I spoke about it last week, I did indicate that I had met with the chair of the NCS that looks after CKLB. It was made clear that obviously both he and I want CKLB back online because it is the voice of the North.

My department has been contributing, for a number of years now, our portion of $202,000. We’ll continue to do that. That’s our commitment. Obviously, through the federal government there is approximately $464,000 that goes to the CKLB. There have been some challenges, obviously, on the reporting mechanism.

I did meet with Shelly Glover, as I indicated last week...

Mr. Speaker, it makes me very proud to share an important milestone with this Legislative Assembly. At the Truth and Reconciliation Commission event in Inuvik in 2011, I committed our government to educating students and teachers in the Northwest Territories about the history and legacy of the residential schools.

For the year following that TRC event, Education, Culture and Employment staff worked closely with the Nunavut government, the Legacy of Hope Foundation and, in particular, former residential school students, to complete a resource package of teaching and learning materials.

In October...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I believe my deputy answered that, where through our partner from the southern institution it is an accredited program that’s transferrable to other jurisdictions across Canada. Dealing with universities from southern institutions, they are recognized from other provincial jurisdictions as well. Once we deliver that program here in the Northwest Territories, through our affiliated university partners, they are recognized in other places as well. Mahsi.

Mr. Chair, obviously we want our Aurora College programming to be adaptable and comparable to southern institutions. That’s why it’s key to have key partners involved with delivering these core early childhood programs, even through our venues of Aurora College campuses and throughout the Northwest Territories. We’ve had this discussion. It was brought up in this House, certification diploma programming. That’s when we came out with the different initiatives on staff grant money and the scholarships. Based on scholarships, obviously we want to attract those individuals to come back to the...

Madam Chair, as I stated in the House, we are working with the Dechinta stakeholders. Obviously, we need a proposal from Dechinta to move forward on as part of their business case scenario. We haven’t received that at this point yet. Again, I have to work with the college across the Northwest Territories as well. It is a process that we have to follow. We’ve been in touch with Dechinta and vice versa. We’re working with them. Mahsi.

Mr. Chair, most certainly. The daycare operators have been actively involved, giving us feedback and advice on these recommendations that were brought to our attention, and we want them to be involved along the way, as well, as part of our working partners. There is a communication plan, obviously, being drafted, as well, how can we best approach those stakeholders. We will share what we have on file, what we’ve developed with the standing committee so they can share with the operators, because we want them on board as well. If we are making changes and additions to what’s been highlighted...

The funding that we’ve identified for these early childhood workers, the funding goes directly to the staff, so there is no implication on their employers. Yes, it is going directly to the staff.