Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have listened with interest to the comments made in this House and in the media over the past week with respect to northern clients with disabilities who are being cared for in Alberta. I realize that there may be occasions when northern residents cannot receive very specialized services that they may require in the North, given our smaller population and more limited services.

The one group home being referred to has had difficulty with their licensing, insurance, accreditation, and they have at least nine NWT clients residing there. Mr. Speaker, I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister if there are any, outside of the mainstream, classroom support available for students with behaviour problems any place else in the Territories. Specifically, are there alternative education opportunities for children in Yellowknife who have behavioural problems, which preclude them from participating in a mainstream classroom in the public schools? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week in a Member’s statement I raised the issue of constituents of mine who have children who have been suspended from the public school system who are now at home with very little opportunity for education in the community. I didn’t have a chance to follow up with questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, so I’d like to do that today. My question for the Minister is what education opportunities are available for these children who cannot be accommodated in the public school system? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, throughout the Northwest Territories we have many organizations and volunteers who work tirelessly to improve the lives of others. As a government, we do what we can to support the needs of our people. Above and beyond that, non-government organizations, service groups and volunteers contribute work and results of immeasurable value. In Hay River this past Saturday night, we again saw a vivid demonstration of that dedication to communities. Each year, for the past 20 years, the Hay River Knights of Columbus have hosted a lobster fest. Hundreds of live...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report progress and, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Is that a motion, you move to report progress?

Mr. Speaker, I am not in a position to police Mr. Zoe’s conduct as a Member, to follow him around and see what he is going to do. Yes, there are programs, people need to avail themselves of those programs. But if they don’t want to, it is not my job to ensure that they do. To suggest, Mr. Speaker, that Mr. Zoe’s political career will be ended by sitting on this side of the House is something else that I reject. What do all of us do here in representation of our constituents if this is not an honourable task to perform on behalf of our constituents? So I will be supporting the motion, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my final question to the Minister then is in terms of my response to my constituents who have children under the age of 16 who are not able to attend school because they have been suspended for long periods of time. Would it be appropriate to tell those constituents that this government recognizes its obligation to educate these students, and that there will be either some financing or opportunity made available to them just to realize an education? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that everyone is pretty aware that there is not enough funding that goes to the education authorities to deal with special needs. With the number of students who require that sort of attention, I think those resources are already spread very, very thin. So to say that the funding is there, might be somewhat…Well, it doesn’t solve my problems. I have more than one student in Hay River right now who is not able to attend the regular school system, and I don’t blame the teachers or the principal for suspending these children if it is disruptive to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize the executive director of the NWT Status of Women Council in the gallery today, Ms. Barbara Saunders.

---Applause