Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just in terms of the review, I know that there are some successes from the Aboriginal Student Achievement Strategy, and if the Minister will review that, as well, and take some of the best practices. I know my colleague Mr. Bromley brought up an excellent program out of Finland. I just want to know how extensive this review will be. Will it be just internal? Will it be looking at other jurisdictions in Canada? Will it be looking at other jurisdictions throughout the world? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I know that this might have been a passing fad 10 or 15 years ago when they introduced it, but it’s not working.

I’d like to ask the Minister, does he have any statistics or can he show any productive results that show that peer passing is working in our system. I know that the parents who approach me say it’s not. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I, too, rise in recognition of Education Week and I’ll gear my Member’s statement towards that.

The Education Minister has recently mentioned his plan to review and renew our education system. I support this review and, I believe, it should be extensive. The practice of social passing should be one aspect of the review. It has long been a concern in the communities that I represent. The department has always denied that social passing in our policy, but it is a practice that some schools use.

Students are passed to the next grade, even though they are not ready...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that committee reports progress.

---Carried

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Just with regard to programs and district operations, I noticed that the budget looks fairly stable, down by $3 million. If you look further down under program delivery details, you see that the Nahendeh district is down, one of those 30 percent of the $3 million that this program is down. Can the Minister give me an explanation as to why that is?

Just for the 2011-2012 actuals of $80,000, was that a previously budgeted amount or were there some exceptional circumstances in that year? Thanks.

Who makes up this Socio-economic Advisory Committee? Thanks.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Just with regard to grants and contributions, there’s an increment or a new addition for Canadian Zinc Socio-economic Agreement. Maybe if the Minister can just explain how that budget of $30,000 would be used. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. The committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 9-17(4), NWT Main Estimates, 2013-2014, with the continuance of Industry, Tourism and Investment as well as NWT Housing Corporation. Thank you.

I know that we have a huge opportunity to review social passing or peer passing strategy. How extensive will the review of the education system be when the department undertakes the additional review? Thank you.