Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi. Again, this Junior Kindergarten has been a topic of discussion for a number of years, even before I got on board as Education Minister in 2007. Through the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative and also earlier engagement, that the pre-learning should be first and foremost a priority of this government. That’s why we laid down the early childhood development, the overall framework, the 10-year agreement. So this is an area that I feel will benefit the communities and the 23 communities that we service. We have the teachers here today being trained on the EDI, we have teachers that...

On May 23rd I met with the DEA chairs, and this particular subject came up. Due to the fact that I’ve listened to the DEA chairs and superintendents, who were part of the discussion, as well, that I should give some flexibility, which I have. Whether it be part time or full time, I gave them the flexibility. The DEAs can decide on that; not only that, the other areas, if it’s going to be full-time, part-time or optional programming. We gave them the option to deliver this into the communities. That’s the reason why we have 23 communities.

I’m the Minister responsible for the whole Northwest...

As I stated, not only Inuvik but in Yellowknife, as well, there’s been engagement with the daycare operators and we continue to provide funding, whether it be the daycare operators, the Aboriginal Head Start program. There’s other early start programming that we will continue to offer. This week my staff will be in Inuvik and highlighting some of those areas of opportunities. Also, if there are concerns brought to our attention, then we need to follow up on those concerns. This will be a second phased approach. So we will re-evaluate our first approach of 23 communities, the pros and cons...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. On the second phase approach, when it comes to regional centres on the deliverance of Junior Kindergarten, there’s going to be a lot of engagement that is happening right now. I’ve already presented to board chairs; district education councils and also DEAs are aware of that as well. They’re in line for a second phase approach, also the daycare operators. The Children First Society is part of the process. We’ve invited the daycare operators, I believe the beginning of last month, to have a workshop, and it has been very successful to date, just to deal with the outcome of...

I did share all that information with the Board of Governors. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I do believe it was Ms. Bisaro who highlighted a student representative that is with us. When it comes to representing those students, whether it be social work, nursing and other business programing, we do have a student representative. It has been vacant for a bit there, but we did hire a student representative. Not only that but the Board of Governors are accountable to the students as well as to the population of the Northwest Territories. What has been shared with me in the House, I’ve also shared with the Board of Governors. They integrated that into their...

Mahsi. Those are particular programs that will be in place. We have provided the training program for the teachers in the springtime and also late fall for those individuals that didn’t partake in the training when we first initiated it in the 23 communities. When it comes to the second phase of the regional centres, most definitely. Those particular trainings will be delivered to those teachers that will be delivering JK in those communities. Mahsi.

Mahsi. As I stated, there will be various forms of engagement with the organizations at the regional level. This is the second phase approach when it comes to delivery of Junior Kindergarten.

My understanding is that my staff will be meeting with the Children First Society and the community of Inuvik on the specifics of Junior Kindergarten program delivery, I believe, within the next couple of weeks. So there will be a full-blown discussion of any concerns, issues or ideas, suggestions that will be coming forward by operators and community members. Mahsi.

We are in a position of power in this House when it comes to Cabinet Ministers, and at the same time, I am not in a position to dictate to the various organizations. We are here to work with them, work with those organizations so they can best meet the needs of the communities and best meet the needs of the students as well. I am also committed in this House that I would share that information with the Board of Governors, and they are developing a plan of action towards that to deal with those matters. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Through the Board of Governors and also the senior staff that we have, the president, the VPs, the councillors, the student support, all those mechanisms are in place and they do have e-mail addresses. The Board of Governors are there as well.

I work very closely with the Board of Governors, and I shared this very concern with them as well. They are developing a plan of action to deal with those matters. But the president of Aurora College and the VPs are always available. If there are concerns from the students, concerns from the general public or from the community, the regional perspective...