Wendy Bisaro

To the Minister, thank you. I thought I heard the Minister say the funding will flow when the program first starts. I would appreciate him reconfirming that in his next answer. If that’s the case, that’s great, that’s what it should do, but I have been hearing from more than just the Yellowknife boards that they will not be getting any new dollars, and this is coming from their schools as well. They will not be getting any new dollars for junior kindergarten when it starts, for instance, in this next school year, September 2014-15.

So, Mr. Minister, why am I hearing from schools that there will...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You’ll notice we have a group of young people in the gallery today. I’m very pleased to welcome the Grade 6 social studies class from William McDonald School. Ecole William McDonald School, pardon me. I’m going to ask them to stand when I read their names so you can be recognized. Your name will go into our Hansard, which is a recording of our proceedings for the day, so you’re going to be forever marked in our register. My apologies if I get your name wrong, but I’m trying very hard to follow the rules in front of me. Chasity Atigikyoak, Kameron Burt, Dustin Caisse...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Not too long ago the Premier made a public proposal presented to the NWT Status of Women Council to establish a mock women’s parliament, similar to the Elders and Youth Parliaments that we currently have every second year.

The Premier’s intent was to provide an event that would create interest in and motivate women for territorial politics, and heaven knows we need more women to be elected to this Assembly.

The idea has generated a lot of opinion and discussion since. Many people, both men and women, have expressed their disappointment and, yes, disgust at the idea of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I spoke these words some time ago, but they bear repeating, and I’m going to quote.

“Mr. Speaker, we’ve heard a lot about fracking in the last two weeks. I haven’t said much about it, but now feel the time has come and I must add my views. I’ve been following the statements and exchanges in the House, the media reports and so on. The Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee has been at the forefront of the fracking issue, doing the research, considering the pros and cons, monitoring Sahtu exploration and development. I’ve tried to stay abreast of the info...

Thanks to the Minister for telling me the information I already know. That’s not my question. My question was I’m hearing that schools will not be getting any new funding when they start junior kindergarten in 2014-15. Why is that, if it’s supposed to be coming?

On another page titled, “How Will We Pay for Junior Kindergarten,” the statement is, “All education authorities are being asked to implement junior kindergarten with existing funding.” That seems to, again, contradict that they will get funding when the program rolls out.

One of the things that are required is resources for new programs...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I’d like to thank the Minister for tabling the fact sheet yesterday. There’s a lot of information in there. I think there are a few opinions, as well, but I would like to ask him a few questions about some of the statements in those sheets.

On the page that says “What Will JK Cost,” It goes on to say the total cost to offer junior kindergarten is projected to be $7.4 million annually. The cost will be absorbed by education authorities. On another page, the School Funding Framework page...

Thanks to my colleagues. I must point to the British Columbia Women’s Campaign School held annually with high-powered presenters, expert women speakers, drawing participants from all over BC and even across Canada. The school is open to women running for any office and to women interested in working on or for a political campaign. The NWT Status of Women Council could be mandated and funded to reach out to do work to increase the participation of women in elected positions, something that happens in Newfoundland. They could establish a mentorship program and/or set up online resources for...

If the Minister is going to continue to encourage, I must ask him, what has he done in the past six months in terms of encouraging the AANDC Minister? Can he give me some details, please?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have some questions, as well, around this particular item.

My first question to the Finance Minister or to the Minister of Education – I don’t know who would want to answer this – if we are accepting money from corporations and they are assisting us to buy the materials that we need to put programs in place, I’d like to know whether or not that is being done within a corporate sponsorship policy of the GNWT.

Is there a policy that we are following when we make these purchases with money from a corporate sponsor, or this is something… The Minister of Education mentioned...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a couple of Pages from Frame Lake who have been working here last week and this week. I believe they’re both in the House today. Gabriel Layden and Isaac Macpherson. I would like to thank them for their service and thank all Pages for their service for the last couple weeks. Thank you.