Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to make a couple of comments and then I want to ask a question. Days run together and I don’t remember when I mentioned it, but I am a little concerned about the money that we’re spending on the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative. I find no fault with the initiative, but when I attended the forum in Dettah a couple of weeks ago, my impression was that there are four priorities which the department has determined for the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative. The impression I got was that the number one priority was early childhood and that the money...

I like the sentiment that it would be cost neutral, but where’s the revenue coming from to pay for this expense? Thank you.

I appreciate the answer from the Minister but it is very concerning. There is a $400,000 line item in the budget which is going to sunset. The NWT nutritious food study, I presume that’s it. It bothers me in that we are again ignoring the issue or benefits of prevention and intervention at an early age. The Minister talked about working with other departments and cross-departmental. I have to say, as I’ve said a couple of times in the last week and a half, that early intervention from kids zero to age six at least helps in breaking the cycle of poverty. The department is talking about working...

So that’s $100,000 for three centres at the moment, is that correct?

Thank you, Mr, Chair. I have a couple of questions here. I’d like to ask, it references a contribution I think on the next pages, but I believe it falls in this section. In the last couple of years the department has made a grant or a contribution to the Food First Foundation, and from a letter, which I mentioned to the Minister of Health last week I think it was, it came from the Executive, it was on Executive letterhead but it was signed by the Minister of Education and it sounds as though, in the letter, as though the Food First Foundation will not receive any funding in the 2011-12 fiscal...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister. I appreciate that they try to respond to people but I guess, you know, as soon as possible, in my mind, if I have an appointment, I want to see my person at the appointed hour.

The Minister says that things are in the works. I’d like to know -- with a school year starting again, they want applications in by July of this summer coming up -- when can the Minister tell us that we will be able to see some of these revisions? When will there be some concrete action for us to look at?

I’m encouraged to hear that it’s going to be looked at. I’m a little disappointed that it hasn’t been looked at already, but something is better than nothing. I guess I want to impress upon the department how important it is that there be a stable source of funding for our daycares. That we’re doing an early childhood framework is a good thing. I think I mentioned that earlier. I’d like to know from the Minister -- either I have a poor memory or it hasn’t been mentioned yet -- when can we expect the results of the review of early childhood that is going to be happening or is happening now.

I thank the Minister for that response. I appreciate that the department is taking action. I would hope for a little bit more specific response.

I would like to talk a bit about the results of another question. This was a question asked about the usefulness of the student handbook. The answers there were very disturbing to me: 71 percent of the replies were negative; 32 percent of them said they never use it; 39 percent of the students said that it was somewhat useful. It seems to me that it’s obvious that a revision is needed. I’d ask the Minister what plans the department has to revise the...

That’s great. Thanks for the response and the clarification. I would like to ask some questions, as well, on early childhood and the funding of early childhood programs. I raised an issue a number of sessions ago, a while ago, as to how daycares and early childhood centres are funded. At the time, I got the impression from the Minister that there was going to be some change to the way that daycares are funded. I just would like to know a couple of things. The first thing is: what is the current method of funding for daycares that ECE provides?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was announced by the Minister of Health and Social Services last week and we are now in the middle of the 6th annual Drop the Pop campaign.

Last year 84 percent of our schools enthusiastically took part in the program. Ecole William McDonald School in Frame Lake had planned to drop a fake pop machine off the roof of the school to prove that they had moved pop out of the school, but insurance concerns intervened and they had to cancel the event, much to the dismay of the students, I’m sure.

But it is time to expand the Drop the Pop campaign to include energy drinks, Mr...