Tom Beaulieu

Mahsi cho. Mr. Speaker, today I have questions for the Minister of MACA. Today I spoke about the many challenges my communities are facing regarding hiring properly trained recreation youth staff.

In response to my previous question on challenges in communities hiring trained recreation staff, the Minister of MACA acknowledges it was something that was recognized for quite some time.

I’d like to ask the Minister: Would he commit to following through with his commitment to meet with me to discuss these challenges, possibly redirecting financing to find solutions?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues.

We are all aware of the success of the trades program. If we can do it for instrumentation, carpentry, and hairdressers, why can’t we do it for recreation coordinators? Later on today I will have questions for the Minister of MACA on this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you to the Minister for that answer.

Mr. Speaker, I pointed out the successes that we all are aware of in the trades program. Just look at all the apprentices in our community. Would the Minister commit to supporting the recreation director-type position and the trades apprentices-type approach or possibly working with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to reinstate the Public Service Career Training Program?

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize Arthur Beck, a chaperone. I would also like recognize the two pages from Fort Resolution, Tu Nedhe: Kelley Lizotte and Peter Beaulieu. Arthur Beck is also the Vice President of the NWT Métis Council.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Speaker, there is potential for saving the result of the G.N.W.T. reduction in spending that could allow for re-profiling of important educational priorities such as literacy and numeracy.

Can the Minister confirm that there will be no G.N.W.T. funding cuts to South Slave schools?

Mr. Speaker, today I talked about the South Slave District Education Council, which had concerns over recent discussions of potential cutbacks and the need to reaffirm this government’s support. Will the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment honour the commitment to increase funding for special-needs support, trades and physical education instruction by reducing the PTR from 15:1 to 14:1 in the South Slave regional school?

A challenge for many smaller communities is teacher retention. Teacher turnover is high in small outlying communities, resulting in interrupted improvement efforts. Within the schools, the Decha school has frequently had no choice but to limit the recruitment efforts to teaching couples only due to a lack of housing.

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to visiting my communities along with the superintendent of the South Slave district council to meet with me and the community to address the community’s ability to recruit and retain staff?

I thank the Minister for that response. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to improving funding for small outlying communities so that these communities will have adequate opportunity to provide basic quality high school programming for properly preparing students for both functional grade level and Alberta achievement tests?

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Mr. Speaker, I’d like to talk about recent discussions on government cutbacks and their potential impacts on operations on the South Slave District Education Council and the governing body for education for Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution.

The council was established in 1991 to administer K-to-12 education systems for Fort Smith, Hay River, Katlodeeche First Nation, Lutselk’e, and Fort Resolution. Council serves eight schools, with a total student population of approximately 1,800. The council is comprised of one representative in each of the five community...

Mr. Speaker, today I wish to acknowledge the efforts of the Lutsel K’e Dene Band and the Akaitcho Territory government in their steadfast commitment to the protection of this important traditional land, as well as Parks Canada for recognizing the need to protect this spectacular area.