I spoke earlier about various research that we are currently undertaking, because this is a complex document that we’re faced with when we talk about the renewal. There have been other studies. As the Member alluded to, the Finnish system that he shared with us. I can share what we currently have, but it’s all preliminary right now. Once it’s available to me, then I can share with the standing committee the updated status in due time.
I know committee’s looking forward to that offer for information. What I’m specifically asking, recognizing that this is apparently the best educational system in the world, they were where we are now, they moved to address that and now they’re the best in the world. Will the Minister specifically have his department look at the Finnish system and bring to us the results of that review and what could work in the Northwest Territories? I know social passing and so on, and many of the things that are brought up today are addressed in that Finnish system.
The peer passing has been addressed in the House. My staff have been diligently reviewing this. The Finnish system, there’s been research across the country and internationally. I will provide that information of what we have to the Members and the standing committee as well.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to continue with questions for the Minister of Justice here. In his statement he mentioned that one of our goals is sustainable, vibrant and safe communities. We also have to make that the focus of the schools. He talked about the community policing plan. I just want to ask the Minister of Justice in his community policing plan if, in the plan itself, the RCMP are asked to go into the school and be a presence in the schools, having them make sure that our teachers and students are safe and have that assurance of having their presence there. Is that part of the policing plan in any of the communities?
Thank you, Mr. Moses. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These community policing plans are actually an agreement between the RCMP and the community itself. They sit down and talk about what the priorities are and set some of their direction. I can’t tell you what every community policing plan says. There are 33 of them. I do know that in some communities, the communities have indicated that education and visits to the school are a priority, and that is in some of the community policing plans.
Would the Minister commit to creating a ministerial directive in speaking with the RCMP to make it a priority, and make it mandatory for RCMP to be in the schools and educate the students on what their roles are in the community and in the schools, and create that strong partnership so that our students can speak up, our teachers can speak up, and let RCMP know what some of their concerns are in terms of bullying, violence, and other things that are happening in the school system or on school grounds?
I’ve had a lot of conversations with the commanding officer of “G” Division where I’ve indicated that education is very important in the Northwest Territories. Having the RCMP engage with students is a priority. I do know that a number of the detachments have been very active with community groups and things like the Not Us! campaign. As I’ve already indicated, I do know that in a number of communities, the communities have made that a priority as well. I’ll continue to have the conversations with the commanding officer of “G” Division and continue to encourage him to engage our communities, to provide education and, where possible, get into the schools.
Just for an example, our Not Us! Committee in Inuvik invited all RCMP staff to a family night. We introduced them to the community and they engaged and played board games, had discussions, sat down, had tea and coffee with the residents of the community. It really builds that strength and partnership and relationship within our community so that we feel comfortable talking to them and they feel comfortable talking to us. It’s been very helpful.
A while back when I was doing health promotion, we had a program with the coroner’s office where the coroner went into the schools and did an education on things like drinking and driving, and violence. I was just wondering if the Minister had any programs in the future, or near future, where the coroner goes into the schools and does an education on their job and some of the things that they do see, because it’s a reality but it really sends a very strong message and education.
I’m not certain whether that program still exists in the Department of Justice. I don’t recall it, but it sounds like a really great idea. What I’ll do is talk to the department to see what existed in the past and whether or not something could be put in place, and I will certainly come and talk to the Member and committee to see if that’s something that we might be able to do in the future.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on the theme of education and Education Week, and I’d like to address my questions to the Minister of Education. He’s had lots of questions today about inclusive schooling and I also have some with regard to inclusive schooling and students.
I know the Minister recognizes, and I think all Members recognize, that we have some special needs students in our classrooms who require more attention and more support than others. Some of them require, in some cases, two special needs aides as opposed to just one or, in some cases, none. I’d like to ask the Minister, first of all, whether or not the current funding formula for special needs for schools recognizes that we have students with greater needs than others.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Currently, we contribute approximately $26 million towards inclusive schooling and $666,000 to a Student Success Initiative. It may not capture every challenge that there is in the school system. That’s the very reason why we are going to re-evaluate our inclusive schooling funding. We’ve been told, when visiting communities, that they should be based on students’ needs, special students and so forth, special needs. Those are the factors that will be taken into consideration. I will be addressing it with the standing committee.
Thanks to the Minister for his response, though I would have to infer from that response that, no, our current formula does not recognize that we have some students who have much higher needs than others and, therefore, the board requires much more funding. I’m pleased to hear the Minister state that there’s going to be a review. I think part of the educational review initiative or renewal initiative, I guess it’s called, is going to include looking at the Inclusive Schooling Policy and, I think, also the funding.
I’d like to know from the Minister, when that review is being done, will it include what I think is an objective review. That would be an external review as opposed to an internal review of the funding formula and the students within our system that require special needs support.
As I stated before, we need to reach out to the front-line workers as well. We are doing research and we are reaching out to experts as well. We want to have those best practices from elsewhere, as well, within Canada, and even in the States and internationally, as Mr. Bromley alluded to earlier. Those are the outside experts that are informing us and providing input. We will continue to address that and reach out to various sectors out there, outside our educational system.
Thanks to the Minister. I appreciate there is an awful lot of research going on and that the Minister indicates that they’re reaching out. It’s one thing to do research and to look at policy. One thing I’m asking for is an external evaluation of our current situation in all our schools within the NWT system. We need to know what students currently exist with what special needs and how much support each is requiring. I would like to know from the Minister if the renewal initiative includes an evaluation of the current special needs requirements in our system.
There are various areas that are evaluating various programs, an external review and so forth. We will take those into consideration as well.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.
I’m not sure I really understood the Minister’s answer. Reaching out. I guess I appreciate that. When the Minister said external, I wonder if he could expand on what he meant by “external” in his last answer.
When I talk about external, there are other sources and experts that we need to depend on. When the Member is talking about external evaluation, those are some of the key factors that we need to take into consideration as well.
I stated before that we’re doing a lot of research in this area. We want to have the best product for the Northwest Territories that meets our educational system. That’s what we’re doing. It is a comprehensive and complex issue.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions will be again to the Minister of Education regarding inclusive schooling. Maybe, for this moment, on my first question I’ll ask the Minister his version of what is inclusive schooling. Maybe he can explain that. What is the purpose of the money and how does it help the students?
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This whole inclusive schooling, the funding that’s been allocated to the school boards is to provide services to those students that are in the needs of various areas within the educational system. We provide $26 million and $666,000 towards the Student Success Initiative within the schools. We continue to work closely with the school boards. Part of the discussions that we’ve been having with the school boards and communities is that we understand there are special needs within the school system. Parents would have to come and say to do an assessment. There is a lot of hesitation as well. We try to work around that system, as well, but based on this comprehensive review that’s going to be undertaken, I’m certainly hoping that will capture those key areas that we’ve been hearing from the communities.
I have to admit that I didn’t understand that answer. I heard needs in various areas and those key areas. With all those various needs and community needs and various area needs, maybe the Minister can explain how a reduction in funding does a better program delivery. I’m not talking about the upcoming review. I’m talking about the reduction of the $26 million he’s talking about. How does that create better services and supports for those students?
I’d like to focus on what we have here today. Reduction, in the past we’ve transferred funding from inclusive to early childhood. That was the direction and recommendation from the standing committee that I work with. I need to work with what we have. So we work closely with standing committee. If there is a guidance or advice given to us, we need to work with it. If early childhood development is a priority, then we need to focus in those areas.
With respect to inclusive schooling, again we are re-evaluating the program and if we are going to be making some changes, I will be coming back to standing committee to make those changes.
Mr. Speaker, I don’t recall it being a standing committee recommendation, but if the Minister wants to blame standing committee, I guess we’re big enough to just accept that and move forward. We’re talking about going forward, of course.
Was the reduction of inclusive education money meant to penalize or redirect those who were not spending the money properly? Was it a form of punishment? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, absolutely not. It was towards the early childhood development. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Mr. Speaker, the question is simple. How has he made inclusive education better by these reductions? The people want that answered. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I don’t know how many times I have to say this, but we are currently going through the review process. That’s what we heard from the general public and from the Members of this Assembly, so we are moving forward on that. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Environment and Natural.
What are the comparative cost benefits of employing the different methods of fracking for fossil fuel extraction?
What is the failure rate of fracking operations (e.g. drill casings) and, since failure is inevitable and we plan to permit fracking, what predicted level of failure will we permit?
What is the potential for contamination of drinking water from fracking operations?
Given our low rates of precipitation and replenishment of waters, and the unpredictable rates of precipitation levels as a consequence of climate change, how have we assessed our ability to remove large volumes of this resource from the water cycle for use in fracking?
Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. McLeod.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.
---Unanimous consent granted
Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome, from Aklavik, Mr. Charlie Furlong. I know she’s been recognized a couple of times before, but I also want to point out that Shirley was born in Aklavik, raised in Inuvik, a good Delta girl. Welcome.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 8, written questions. Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Would the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment please provide the analysis that was used to support a funding reduction for inclusive schooling?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 9-17(4), NWT Main Estimates, 2013-2014; and Bill 1, Tlicho Statutes Amendment Act.
By the authority given to me as Speaker, by Motion 1-17(4), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the normal daily hours of adjournment to consider the business before the House, with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.
I call Committee of the Whole to order. We have two items before us. Mr. Menicoche, what is the wish of the committee?
