Kevin A. Menicoche

Has the department been tracking why the student numbers have decreased at all? Is it the older age group? Is it the younger age group? What efforts are they taking to analyze this, and maybe if there are missing children from school, to perhaps get them back in school. What is the cause of these numbers and the reductions? Thank you.

I think it was last fall or last spring, I think, we lost one of our library proponents that moved out of the community so I think that file did go silent for awhile, but it’s certainly still important for Fort Simpson and I look forward to the Minister’s commitment to continue to follow up and work to a better solution for Fort Simpson. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just in regard to 10-19 and community library services, it’s still the focus of the community of Fort Simpson to get back to a fully functioning library, and I continue to pursue this initiative. I was just wondering, since I last raised it, how far Education, Culture and Employment have explored and worked with the community organization in addressing this concern.

Thank you very much. Earlier the Minister had said that two communities will pilot family resource centres this year. How long is he planning to run that and also what is the long-range forecast? Is it to run them in all of our small and remote communities as well, Mr. Chair?

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Just a follow-up on the theme of early childhood education. Today I’ve got several questions. I’m just wondering how Education, Culture and Employment would encourage and help communities to start early childhood programs like the Open Door in Fort Simpson, and if they answer yes, then how is that being done. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I, too, will be voting in favour of the motion. I think it’s the timeliness of this issue and to highlight it in this House and to get all Members of the Legislative Assembly to move forward with this issue. It’s been on the backburner for many, many years. Just how it impacts the smaller communities is my concern. It does have to be resourced and the resources are there currently, but it’s few and far between. That’s why I’ll be supporting this motion.

I know that it’s in everybody’s best interest to have a good-news story as we work towards the completion of the Trout Lake Airport. Regretfully, it was delayed almost by a year. Everybody wants to see it done, and done properly.

My concern again is, like many of our other regions, we’re kind of like a have-not and it hurts the community and it hurts the region when our government is offering contracting opportunities to other regions before they even work with the contractors in the Nahendeh riding. That’s my initial concern and I just want to advise the Minister that the community wants to be...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I won’t go on too long. I look forward to deliberation as we go through line by line. I press the case for most particularly Highway No. 7. I’ve been leading that charge for some time now. I look forward to, I’m going to have to agree with government, I guess, and look forward to the fall deliberations to get some capital funding and hope that we do get our fair share to address highway concerns on Highway No. 7.

Just with that, it’s just around the corner and I’m pleased that the Minister of Transportation will be travelling with me down Highway No. 7 this...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know that our Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative also addresses attendance. First of all, I had asked for the breakdown if it was attendance or else reduction in enrolment. Was the department able to clearly answer that question? Because the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative was supposed to address attendance and getting our students back into the schools. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. With regard to the Dehcho Divisional Education Council, there’s a reduction of four positions, as indicated in the details here. I’d just like an explanation from the Minister, please.