Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question has to do with board reform. I mentioned it in my remarks earlier. I’d like to know from the Minister whether or not the department has any plans over this next fiscal year to make any changes in terms of the makeup of education authorities or if there are any plans, if it’s not changed in the makeup, what sorts of things are in the works that the department is planning to work on. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, February 11, 2010, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that the Speaker be authorized to set such sitting days and hours as the Speaker, after consultation, deems fit to assist with the business before the House. Thank you.

Thanks to the Minister for the answer, but it really didn’t get to my question. At one time there were facility standards for schools. There were things that were required such as certain classrooms of a certain size, open areas spaces of a certain size, office spaces of a certain size. I want to know whether we have facility standards now which require a gymnasium to be encompassed in the building plans for any new school.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. He’s getting his exercise getting up and down today. I was going to ask him what progress has been made and ask for an update on plans that ECE has for phase two expansion of Ecole Allain St-Cyr. He’s kind of referred to that in answering questions from Mrs. Groenewegen. He’s mentioned that discussions with the board are ongoing and he’s also mentioned there was a need for board assistance. I’m not exactly sure what that means. I know the board is onside with this project, so I’d like...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to let you know I have questions. I thought you were going to recognize the clock. I can ask the questions tomorrow as long as we don’t close the page. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, it may be a little early to start talking about a capital project, but there is an unequal situation in one of our schools in Yellowknife, one which must be corrected. Ecole Allain St-Cyr provides French first-language schooling for students from kindergarten to grade 12, and because of dedicated parents, teachers and board members -- which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year -- has grown from a single portable at Sissons School site in 1989, with only nine students, to the opening of their own building on their own...

That was kind of clear as mud. I guess if I understood correctly, it’s now being tied to students within an authority as opposed to being tied to a percentage of costs within the authority’s budget. I didn’t fully understand how this dollar amount is being determined. Secondly, is the dollar amount that is going to individual authorities going down this year for inclusive schooling? Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, thanks for the answer to the Minister. I just would like to suggest that, when this is being investigated, when it is being looked at, the Minister and the department seriously consider the effect the lack of school counsellors has on students in schools, particularly high schools and their inability to actually fully understand the impact that particular course will have on their post-secondary education. The Minister full well knows it has been an issue that has come out a fair bit in the last several months. I think if there is an opportunity for us to train school counsellors...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a couple of questions on this section. I would like to first off state that I am -- and I have mentioned it in my comments earlier -- very pleased to see that there is an increase in the funding to arts and culture. It is the way that we should be going. I am very glad to see that the department continues to increase the funding in this particular area.

I have a concern with the early childhood and family literacy funding. It is a strategic initiative, I believe, in this particular section of the budget. I am glad to see that we are increasing the funding for...

My question was not so much whether there has been any change to date but what is being contemplated for this next fiscal year. This issue was extremely volatile and piqued the interest of many residents and particularly the education authorities. So the Minister states that they are working on it. I wonder if he can tell us what sorts of things they are working on and what changes might be contemplated that they are going to be working on. Thank you.