Shane Thompson

Thank you Mr. Chair. I'm going to try to narrow down my questions because my colleagues have provided a number of good comments and questions. I guess my first concern is did not this, the coalition work with the original RFP and then what I've heard from the Minister is something, was different. Can you explain why the department works with the coalition to come up with RFP but then we end up in this situation? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Minister for her answer. I am pretty disappointed that we do not have a plan in place. We have built the program, done a pilot project, and now we still do not know if we will be able to implement it right away besides the internet access. In regards to the courses that were developed, what is the difference between the courses that they provide to other organizations? I am looking at the list, and this is the same thing that you go to councils with before, so what are the differences that is going to make this unique to designated authorities that happen to normal hamlets, towns...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 100(4) to have Committee Report 10-18(2): Report of the Standing Committee on Social Development on the Review of Bill 16: An Act to Amend the Education Act, moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Social Development is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Education Act, and commends it to the House.

Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Education Act, proposes to enshrine the Junior Kindergarten Program in the territorial "education program" and to regulate entitlements of access for junior kindergarten students, who could be as young as three and eight months. The bill also proposes to reduce the mandatory minimum for school instructional hours.

The Standing Committee on Social Development has...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Social Development conducted public hearings on Bill 18 on April 6th in Yellowknife, on April 10th in Inuvik, and April 12th in Hay River. A clause-by-clause hearing was held on May 25th on the bill and was subsequently amended and reprinted. Members may have additional comments, or we may proceed with the bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Minister for her answer, and I understand her concerns. However, we are talking about people in their own homes, who need these potential materials to help them with other stuff or fixing up later on, renovations. Can the Minister advise this House if this issue was brought up during the survey that was just recently done?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during my visit back home, I had the opportunity to talk to a number of residents, and they had some concerns. Mr. Speaker, as more and more housing situations occur, I have been more perplexed on why things happen with the Housing Corporation. Just recently, I was informed the contractors have the first right of refusal to the extra material for housing contracts. This does not seem right, since the clients have to pay some sort of cost for these projects. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation please...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my colleague from the Deh Cho.

Recommended Actions

That the Department of Education, Culture and Employment review and adjust its school funding formulae to ensure that additional funding accounts for new JK students in Inclusive Schooling, Aboriginal Language and Culture-based Education, and transportation funding from the 2017-2018 school year on;

That the Department of Education, Culture and Employment report annually on the implementation of the Strengthening Teacher Instructional Practices pilot project and the Junior Kindergarten Program, including an...

Mr. Speaker, there are without any doubts impediments when it comes to accessing quality food for affordable prices in the North, especially for the economically disadvantaged. It is such a problem that even food banks are now charging a user fee for each flat of donated food that an individual or family will receive. It is understandable that being in remote communities causes higher freight and transportation costs for retailers and so they must mark up their products to compensate for the additional costs. Although these mark-ups are implemented to ensure the retailers maintain their...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for her answer. I guess I am a little concerned, though, that it is not information that is shared with all clients. I know in my riding a number of the clients have asked, looking for a small part, you know, a small portion of material like tiles and that. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister be willing to look at or engage her department in looking at this as an opportunity to discuss this with clients and maybe in the future that they have that option available to them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.