Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have one quick question. Is deferred maintenance for 2011-12 a total of $8 million?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 133-16(5), NWT Main Estimates, 2011-2012, and do the departments of Public Works, Executive and, time permitting, hear some remarks from Finance.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell me roughly if he has some general objectives in the plan? Can he tell me what the plan is to address the absenteeism issue? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me if there has been a reduction in absenteeism in the schools in small communities from year to year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak on a very important topic and the overall well-being of society of First Nations people in the NWT, Mr. Speaker, the rate of absenteeism in our schools in the small communities. Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious problem and the responsibility must be shared. The high rate of absenteeism is the responsibility of the local district education authority and the district education councils, the teachers, the parents and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, if our children do not attend school regularly, they are...

Sorry, Mr. Chairman, I didn’t hear the response. That’s my only question.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I too am very pleased with some of the reintroduction of some of the settlement maintainers into the communities. One of those positions happens to be in Fort Resolution. I’d like the department to look at the whole issue of apprenticeships. There are 11 apprentices that the Minister indicated in his opening remarks. I think there’s room for more. I think every tradesperson should have an apprentice and that the department could work with the Housing Corporation and MACA to maintain houses, buildings, other infrastructure in the community and use tradesmen to do that...

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I too will support this motion. I have a few reasons for wanting to see a program like this go. The main one is that I think we should focus on getting elders’ homes fixed, because of some of the things that Mr. Menicoche talked about. Mainly because in the small communities they do have fixed incomes and they can’t afford to fix their house. Even individuals that are working and would be considered working poor, actually have more income than most of the seniors who are living off of old age security.

The other thing is if we don’t address the issue of the seniors, and...

Mr. Speaker, was absenteeism contemplated when the department developed the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In following up on my Member’s statement on absenteeism in the school, I have questions for the Minister of Education. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me if the department keeps stats on absenteeism and then uses those stats and if there is a correlation between achievement and/or the lack thereof in absenteeism? Thank you.