Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Kole Crook Fiddle Association has been very successful to date, since its inception in 2002. Since 2004, Education, Culture and Employment supported with funding through the NWT Arts Council, a Support to Northern Performers cultural contribution with a total of close to $250,000 since 2004. This averages $20,000 a year. We will continue to provide that valuable contribution to that organization. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the House that the Territorial Nominee Program has been greatly enhanced to better meet the needs of employers and to advance the population and economic growth objectives set by this government.

Economic growth in the territory is creating opportunities for employment and investment in many sectors, particularly in the non-renewable resource sector. To continue to build a strong and competitive economy, this government has committed to increasing immigration as a component of the broader economic and population growth work while maintaining our priority to...

Mahsi. It is approximately $1.8 million to deliver junior kindergarten, and with the downsize to 19 and 18 there’s a small reduction that’s going back to the school boards. I must reiterate that the October 30th decision that was made by this House uses an existing fund that we’ve allocated. So, we’ll continue to go with that process, as well, for next year. Mahsi.

Mahsi. We are currently, as the Member indicated, reviewing the overall JK, junior kindergarten deliverance for next year. The communities that provided written to opt out of junior kindergarten have been verified and next year the plan is to have 18 junior kindergartens to be delivered as part of the process. That’s where it stands. We go by what’s been written to our department by the DEAs and the DECs. Mahsi.

We contribute to the NWT Arts Council to effectively contribute towards these highly successful projects or activities within the Northwest Territories, and there has been an increase in that funding over the years as well. We also evaluate on the funding, the criteria, the contribution we contribute on an annual basis. Like I said, it’s been increased over the years, so we can certainly look at those as well.

Mr. Speaker, the NWT Arts Council and the Support to Northern Performers contribution is based on the applications they receive. More specifically, the Kole Crook Fiddle Association has submitted one on an annual basis and they’ll continue to do so.

This is an area where we feel we should continue to support the youth, especially the youth who we sponsor over the years. As far as the 2,100 participants that benefitted from the workshop, even within a three-year timespan there have been 300 participants on an annual basis. This is a very successful project and we’ll continue to deliver that...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize Richard Letourneau, who is here with us as the president of the Federation Franco-Tenoise, FFT. Welcome. Mahsi for being with us.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 45, An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act, be read for the first time.

Mahsi. Aurora College is developing their two-year strategic plan, and the ECD programming, early childhood development programming has been brought to the attention of the president, the Board of Governors chair, because we are serious about developing programs. This is one of the GNWT’s priorities as well, ECD. So, it is in the works, part of their strategic plan. We’ve been pushing with the college. So we want to see this particular programming at our campuses. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This is an area that was, again, brought to my attention with the campuses that we have across the Northwest Territories. More specifically at the Yellowknife Campus, and also Inuvik as well.

Since I brought this to the attention of the Board of Governors, they’ve been developing some options to deal with these matters at hand. I need to get the latest status from the Board of Governors. I don’t have that detailed information here from their organization, so I will provide that to the Member. Mahsi.