Julie Green

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So Mr. Chair, are we as a government actively looking for nominees for this program or are we just accepting applications as they come in? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, at the time that the department presented its business plan it was not able to tell us about the projected growth in income assistance for the coming fiscal year. I am wondering if they are able to do that now, please. Thank you. That is, growth in the number of clients. Thank you.

Rather than cutting the program, what does the Minister think he could do to help the college remove barriers to completing the social work program and improve graduation rates?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, according to the presentation we had at lunchtime, children often enter school with significant developmental deficits in all sizes of communities in the NWT so it stands to reason that their need for inclusive schooling resources will be greater perhaps than for other higher grades. So I'm wondering if, in fact, the Minister will consider increasing those resources to meet the needs of the additional students? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, it sounds like the goal for 2017-18 is lower than it was for 2016-17; do I have that right? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So Mr. Chair, in fact, junior kindergarten isn't being fully funded by the government; it is being funded by both the government and the education authorities. Is that correct?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, there are 17 students in each of the two years of the program, but the number of graduates is much lower. The answer to low completion rates is not to cut these programs, but put supports in place which will help students in their academic journeys. Cutting the programs will cut off access to education to a significant number of Northerners, and that access will have a domino effect. Education, as we all know, is a way out of poverty and into self-determination.

Finally, and I echo what my colleagues have said, I find it incomprehensible that...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Also in this section, as part of the mandate, Members agreed that there would be a plan for universal daycare that would be introduced by the fall. Could the Minister give us an update on the development of that plan? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I understand that attracting immigrants to the Northwest Territories is a priority. I am wondering what actions the department will be taking in the next fiscal year to pursue increased immigration? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am not sure that I totally understood that. The enrolments for this school year were counted at the end of September, so there is some certainty about how many children are in the schools. I am not clear what the uncertainty is in coming up with a definitive number here. Thank you.