Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the 16 to 1 ratio is a minimum, and it's a legislated number. We actually fund to about 12.8 to 1. And that is just including teachers, program supports, staff. So it is basically instructional staff. So that number is a minimum, and we already exceed that number. And I will be the first to say there's never enough money for education; there's never enough teachers to go around, and so I appreciate the Member's comment and the school board's comments. But unfortunately, we've talked a lot about competing needs today, and we've talked about our overall debt, and our efforts to ensure that we are supporting every area to the greatest extent possible. And so that's what we're working on, and we'll be going through the budget in this sitting, and I'm happy to dig deep into the details of the school funding formula at that time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Final supplementary, Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate the Minister's comments, and I think it's important that on this side of the House, we continue to talk about the things we would like to see more money go into because those are the things that are important to the people we serve.
That being said, I know that education is top of mind for many Northerners, if not most Northerners. And I'm wondering if the Minister would be willing to revisit the education funding formula in advance of the modernization of the Education Act in order to address things like inflation and increased needs for inclusive schooling. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And the funding formula is quite complex, and the funding that is provided to education bodies is complex in general. There's actually additional funding available for inclusive schooling on an application basis. And I've seen those applications come across my desk, and we've been approved.
We are always looking at the funding formula. There have been some improvements made to the formula during this Assembly. I expect to see some more made before the end of this Assembly. But as for a wholesale revision, I can't commit to that given that the Education Act is become modernized, and it would take a lot of effort to redo the entire funding formula and then redo it again once we finalize that Education Act. So while I can commit to continuous improvements, I can't commitment to a wholesale revision. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Main Estimates, 20222023. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document: Followup letter for Oral Question 82819(2): Inuvik Warming Shelter Fire. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I wish to table the following two documents: A Media Release from Alternatives North and Ecology North Comments on the Draft NWT Statement of Environmental Values.
And the second document: Alternatives North and Ecology North Comments on the Draft NWT Statement of Environmental Values. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Tabling of documents. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table an article entitled "Volvo Announces Massive 50GigawattHour Battery Plant in Sweden".
And the second is titled "Fortune Minerals" from the Edmonton Journal, "Article Aiming to Develop in Alberta after Saskatchewan Rejected Proposed Metals Refinery". Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. I move that the chair rise and report progress. Thank you.
Thank you. There's a motion on the floor to report progress. Does committee agree?
Agreed
Thank you, committee. I will now rise and report progress.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 23; Bill 29; Tabled Document 56119(2), 20222023 Main Estimates, and would like to report progress, and Mr. Speaker, I move that report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Do we have a seconder? Member for Inuvik Boot Lake. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.
Carried
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Orders of the day for Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022, 1:30 p.m.
Prayer
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Replies to Budget Address (Day 2 of 7)
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to Commissioner’s Address
Petitions
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Motions
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
First Reading of Bills
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Bill 23 An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act
Bill 29 Resource Royalty Information Disclosure Statute Amendment Act
Bill 38 Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2021
Tabled Document 561-19(2) 2022-2023 Main Estimates
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022, at 1:30 p.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 4:46 p.m.
