Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a number of comments as well. Some of them are going to be repetitive, but I think they bear repeating.

At the outset, I want to say that I’m dismayed about the lack of progress in the department on reducing our graduation rates. I feel that the department is doing a lot of really good things. We have a lot of projects on the go, but they don’t seem to be all that coordinated, and in my estimation, we’re not spending enough, we don’t put enough emphasis on basic education. Whether it be preschool, whether it be K to 12, even, I think, advanced education. I think...

Page 7-24, Public Works and Services, information item, lease commitments, infrastructure. Any questions? Seeing none, we will move on to page 7-26, Public Works and Services, information item, Technology Service Centre (Chargeback). Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are addressed to the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. I have to say I was really glad to hear the Minister’s remarks earlier today when he made his statement. He talked about wanting an economy that’s diversified. Absolutely I agree. He wants to raise the profile of locally made, in this case, jewellery products. Absolutely I agree. He wants to support the local arts sector and he feels it’s an important element to grow this sector to do that promotion. It flies in the face of what I spoke about in my statement where we have an NWT Tourism...

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Are there any other Members wishing to make opening comments? Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you for the information. I have no further questions.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Abernethy.

I think that covers it. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks to the Minister for the response. I’m not sure again if this is the right place. I could be directed to the right section if I’m out of line here. I wanted to ask a question with regard to the role of Human Resources in our devolution negotiations and implementation. I believe that there is an employee within Aboriginal Affairs who is working on human resource matters. Is there any money within this budget for the Department of Human Resources that is going to the devolution work that we’re currently doing as a government?

To the question of liability, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that the Minister is going to do something, that he’s going to talk to board chairs. But I think this goes beyond board chairs and I think this is something the department could do directly with the schools. I’d like to ask the Minister when I could expect him to provide some concrete action… Sorry. When he could report to me that there’s been some concrete action on developing policies in all our schools.