Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Recently, there was a reduction in the funding allocation for inclusive schooling. I would like to ask the Minister what his department plans to do to ensure adequate funding with a proper targeting and resourcing of assistance for children with special needs in our classroom.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Part of the plan, as we move forward, is to re-evaluate our interest in schooling, the funding that’s been distributed to all school boards. Part of the planning is to develop a comprehensive engagement plan. We’d like to hear from the stakeholders and professions, educators, the people that are involved, the resources. Based on the outcome of the report, the recommendation, we’ll more than likely come back here to standing committee to make a presentation. If we’re going to make some changes, then, of course, there’s also a cost factor. I will be tabling that document in the House and sharing that with the standing committee.
Not only are there inadequate resources for inclusive schooling, but the way that the inclusive schooling funding is distributed, I believe, is premised on a wrong approach. I would like to ask the Minister if he’s aware of how other jurisdictions fund inclusive schooling if they have inclusive schooling policies, and do we have examples where the inclusive schooling funding follows a student and is not provided through a formula.
We’ve done some of the research throughout the other jurisdictions. It varies. There is different programming in other jurisdictions. Some sponsor students through various grades one on one, individual assessments. They do a student assessment. In the Northwest Territories we use a different approach. The whole comprehensive, I want to listen to the people. Especially the educators, the parents are involved, how we can upgrade or enhance our existing programming. Those are some of the fundamental changes we can foresee. We are doing a lot of research with other jurisdictions. We have contacts with other educators throughout Canada. Even my colleagues across the country here in Canada. We want to have the best practices, follow that lead. That is the information we will be sharing with the standing committee.
When the Minister says that he wants to hear from educators, we have a rather strange policy that doesn’t apply to anyone else in the public service but to educators. We seem to have some kind of a commitment that’s made to not speak to the challenges and issues that they face, outside of maybe speaking to their superiors within the school system. It is not often that you formally ever hear of a teacher complain about anything, because there is some other rule, which I’ve never really been able to understand or get to the bottom of, that they are not to discuss this. How would the Minister, I want him to hear from educators. I want him to not just hear from administration, not just the heads of schools, I want him to hear from front-line educators on this issue of inclusive schooling. How does the Minister propose to achieve that?
I agree with the Member that we need to hear from those individuals that are front-line teachers, because they are the ones who are exposed to the special needs children in our school system. I’m sure they have ideas and suggestions that we can work with. My department will be reaching out to those individual teachers that are front-line workers, not only administrators. I agree; we need to reach out to beyond administrators, similar to what we have done in the past with various initiatives that we have undertaken re-evaluating programs.
Since I’ve taken on the role as Minister of ECE five years ago, we’ve been undertaking various initiatives, re-evaluating and reaching out to the grassroots people. I think those are the individuals who are heavily impacted and we want to listen to them. That’s the area we are pursuing.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although I disagree with the premise on which inclusive schooling funding dollars are distributed, we’ve had a cut, a loss of $1 million in the inclusive schooling budgeting.
Can the Minister tell me if there is any way the Department of Education, from within, could find the $1 million to reinstate that until such time as this survey, study, consultation process that he’s talking about has taken place? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, we have to go through the process. We’re re-evaluating a program, inclusive schooling. Based on that, there’s going to be a business planning process. In the meantime, we’re continuing to work with what we have in our budget, but rest assured that these are some of the changes that we’ll probably foresee within inclusive schooling, based on what we’ve heard from the general public, the professionals and the educators, and then we’ll come back to the standing committee to update them on the status. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I spoke about social passing that’s happening in our schools. As I travel in my constituency, many parents raise concern about that. I know that there is a practice out there and I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, why is our education system allowing social passing. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Peer passing is part of the school system within our education system, where individuals are passed through grades to be with their peers. There has been a lot of research done in this area. We’ve done a lot of consultation and engagement with the various stakeholders not only in the Northwest Territories but outside. We have individual experts in that field who gave us presentations that said that there are stats out there and that peer passing is one of those fundamental ways of dealing with children, whereas frustration kicks in and so forth. We’re doing what we can with additional support to the parents and to the students as well. Those are just some of the areas where we are currently working with. Mahsi.
I know that this might have been a passing fad 10 or 15 years ago when they introduced it, but it’s not working.
I’d like to ask the Minister, does he have any statistics or can he show any productive results that show that peer passing is working in our system. I know that the parents who approach me say it’s not. Thank you.
I certainly will share the stats and information that we’ve received from the experts over the years. They are telling us that peer passing is the best way to approach these students. Not only that, research that we’ve done, stats address those areas as well.
The peer passing, when we talk to parents or parents talk to us, there are some mixed messages. Some are in favour; some are not in favour. Based on that, we’ve done some additional research throughout Canada and even throughout the States. I will be sharing that information with the Members. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
I know that we have a huge opportunity to review social passing or peer passing strategy. How extensive will the review of the education system be when the department undertakes the additional review? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, we’re currently doing an educational review. It is complex. When we talk about the overall review of the NWT education system, that means we have to amend the Education Act. There’s going to be engagement with the general public, as well, and then also the MLAs to provide their input where the changes should be occurring.
With inclusive schooling, there’s a comprehensive study that’s going to be happening, engagement, and also education renewal. That’s going to be slated for this fall. I’m hoping to complete it by this fall so I can present it to the standing committee and before this House as well.
It does cover all areas. There are six pillars within education renewal and I can certainly share that detailed information with the Members as well. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just in terms of the review, I know that there are some successes from the Aboriginal Student Achievement Strategy, and if the Minister will review that, as well, and take some of the best practices. I know my colleague Mr. Bromley brought up an excellent program out of Finland. I just want to know how extensive this review will be. Will it be just internal? Will it be looking at other jurisdictions in Canada? Will it be looking at other jurisdictions throughout the world? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, it will be extended out to other jurisdictions as well. We’re doing research in this area from our counterparts across the country, and not only that but with ASA what we’ve heard from the general public, and through addictions there’s the forum that’s happening. There are all these different forums that are currently occurring in the Northwest Territories. We’re hearing the same common thing. Based on the six pillars I addressed earlier, system accountability; professional capacity, that deals with the teachers and educators; assessment practices, so based on the various assessments within the school system; small community schools and most isolated communities as well; and early childhood development research. Those are the key factors I will be taking into consideration within the renewal. I’m really looking forward to the outcome from the stakeholders’ input. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to focus my questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Last year CanNor announced $6.8 million in support of adult literacy and basic education programs by Aurora College, with $2.5 million earmarked for this fiscal year. Promised programs included hiring of adult learning basic education instructors, trades access program funding, community basic education learning opportunities and a focus on short courses towards essential skills.
Can the Education Minister give a summary of programs delivered this year and whether all the federal funds will be productively expended as budgeted? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, any funding that we get is very much appreciated. CanNor funding has been allocated to the Northwest Territories through the Aurora College campus. We are going to utilize all of it to the best of our ability. Any funding that we receive, we need to exhaust all avenues.
We’ve been working closely with the college to identify what they’re planning to deliver, when it’s going to be delivered, how much it is going to cost, how ECE can get involved in that, how the community can get involved. It all takes partnership. It’s not only the college that will be delivering, but with the assistance of ECE and the assistance of the community. The community has to come on board as well. They are the true partners. They have the facilities in the communities. They have the resources in the communities and the people.
I can say at this point that we’re going to be exhausting the funding that’s available to us through those venues, through the various partnerships. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thanks for the Minister’s comments there. I hope the Minister will report to committee on what was achieved with the $2.5 million expenditure this year.
Unfortunately, ALBE and upgrading students are not eligible for student financial assistance. SFA, as it’s called, recognizes that people going to college and university need room and board, but apparently ALBE students don’t have these needs. With all this programming being funded to get people back to school, why is student financial assistance not available to adult learning basic education students? Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, this is one of the recommendations brought to our attention during the SFA review. We are currently reviewing it, how we can best fit it into our programming. As you know, there have been several recommendations that were brought to our attention from the general public. We have initiated three or four of them already as a priority set by our government and also the general public, which is the most pressing need. It is before us and we are evaluating that.
You can rest assured that there are other fundings available, whether it be Labour Market Agreement. Individuals who do not qualify for EI can get trained. If those individuals want to upgrade, they go through various upgrade training programs and get ready for the workforce. There is also the ASETS program in the community. All of these different programs in the communities, as I stated, we need to work with them, the college, ourselves, ECE and also the communities. The more, the merrier; the bigger pot it is to train more manpower for the workforce. Those are areas we are continuing to work on with the communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, thanks to the Minister once again. We have indeed had several reviews that have recommended that this funding be extended to adult learning and basic education students. We’ve received $8.6 million new funding to concentrate on upgrading and adult learning. Obviously, we want the intake of these students. It is also obvious that they need shelter and food as much as college and university students. The Minister recognizes these recommendations and mentions that there are many other programs.
Will the Minister act on the recommendations of the SFA and the ALBE program reviews, taking into consideration what else is available to make sure and bring forward a program for supporting ALBE students as these recommendations suggest? Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, as I stated, there are other programs that can support these ALBE students. We’ve done that in the past. Some students can qualify for three or four different programs. SFA may not qualify for that, but at the same time, the Labour Market Agreement and other agreements are out there that can qualify. Those individuals can qualify. We also work with the Mine Training Society that delivers, whether it be underground training or surface training and various training initiatives, HEO and so forth. Those individuals qualify for training funds through my department and other various departments, as well, even at the community level. I can share the list of potential sponsorship that may be available to those individuals that want to get trained. Mahsi.
Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister. This government talks fiscal restraint in the first two years of the mandate, before program expansions in the third and fourth years. We will have $4 million more in our federal ALBE funds to coincide with our return to funding, apparently, in response to human needs.
Again, will the Minister advance his case to provide the essential complementary support to make sure there are no gaps in these various programs of support for ALBE students? Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, a short answer will be that we are going to address all of those gaps that may be available in between various funding. We need to identify those. Again, I will be sharing that information with the Members. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Justice. I want to commend him and the work that his community have been doing in terms of making all of these drug busts and bootlegging busts in the communities; actually, more involved with the Not Us! campaign and empowering our residents to speak up in the communities and get justice where it needs to be. I commend the hard work that the department is doing with this program. Specifically to the Not Us! program, I believe it is probably in its third year now of running.
I just want to ask the Minister, with the success of this program, is the Minister going to be allocating any new dollars in the future for this program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Not Us! program is actually quite a successful program. We have it in 20 out of the 33 communities. It starts with a $10,000 start-up and a $5,000 ongoing fee or ongoing allowance to help maintain the program. Right now we have enough money in the budget to cover the communities and there is no plan to increase the allocation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I was going to ask how many communities are receiving funding and the Minister answered that. We have 13 other communities that can potentially have alcohol and drug-related problems. I want to know – and the Minister did state that he has enough funding to cover the communities that we have now – what about these 13 communities that continue to have these issues. How is he going to address those issues if he’s not committing any other funding?
Can the Minister let me know, and let the government know, and people in these other 13 communities, how is he going to address empowering the residents to speak up specifically for the Not Us! program in these 13 communities? Does he have a plan to address them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, the program starts off with a $10,000 initial payout and then $5,000 in subsequent years. Because we haven’t had all 33 communities come on at one time, they have been coming at a staggered approach, the budget that we had is, actually, we are able to use that to cover the $10,000 where a few communities start in a year and then the rest are $5,000. So we actually have enough money to maintain them. Right now, as of January 13th, we have three more communities who have indicated a desire to start a Not Us! campaign. That is Fort Simpson, Norman Wells and Tuktoyaktuk. Currently, they don’t have programs, but they’ve expressed an interest and we’re going to move forward with them to get them started up. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to seeing reports on how successful this program is. Is the Minister going to be doing a report on this Not Us! program? If so, when will the standing committee see the report on the Not Us! program and the effectiveness of this program, as I am sure did help in a lot of the statements that the Minister said earlier? Will we be seeing a report? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the department is actually currently developing an evaluation framework to assess the success of the campaign and to inform future direction on the program. I don’t have a timeline for it, but I will commit to getting you some additional information during this sitting so that we can have an idea when that evaluation framework will be in place and when we can actually expect to see results. Of course, I am happy to share any results that we come forward with, with committee and with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Moses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Being one of the volunteers that helped start up the Not Us! campaign in Inuvik and get the funding for it, I know how successful this program can be in empowering our residents, our students, our teachers, everybody that works with children and works in the community. Specifically, there is a very successful program called the Lights On Program that happens that we do in Inuvik but we don’t have the funding to keep it on or provide a safe environment for students in the school.
Would the Minister look at specific funding for the Lights On Program outside of the Not Us! funding? A lot of the committees are using the Not Us! funding for that specific program which is very successful as well. Can the Minister let me know if he would be looking at allocating specific funding for the Lights On Program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I’m not familiar with that particular program, but I would love to sit down with the Member and have him educate me on the program. As far as funding goes, it’s hard to commit funding when I have no idea what the program is. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand we’re doing all we can to advance the educational goals in the NWT. Current core values of the education system work to ensure that we have educated and well-trained professionals in the Northwest Territories. Recently, advances have been made in terms of trying to be inclusive in respecting First Nations’ culture and values and principles in the educational system.
My question to the Minister is: What is the department doing to promote the philosophy of strong like two people in addressing educational needs of the Northwest Territories residents? Mahsi.
