Mahsi, Mr. Chair. The funding overall will be covering some aspects of going to small communities, such as increase in funding to license early childhood programs in small, isolated communities up to $350,000. This way the young children in small, isolated communities can certainly benefit from it. Those are the areas of increase to our funding to deal with small, isolated communities. Mahsi.
I am not 100 percent clear on what that exactly means. I wonder if the Minister could just explain to me, in layman’s terms, exactly what that funding will do in the small communities.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. I will call on Mr. Daniels.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The funding that we’re providing to the small communities will be for those communities outside the larger regional centres and will be intended to help with a variety of different things depending on different priorities that are present in the community. They may go towards helping with nutrition programs in the Child Care Program, for example, or it might be going towards helping with some playground equipment costs or some other safety matters around the playground of a centre or maybe going towards child and family literacy programs or staff development costs to help those operations. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Daniels. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I think those are all good initiatives. Is any of it going directly into supporting... The issue I have in one of the daycares is location, like to somehow bring the daycare into or close to the school. The other issue is staff complement. They are not able to support as many preschoolers as they would like to because they don’t have the money to hire the staff. So just a direct question if any of that funding is going directly into daycares.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, it would all depend on the community, what kind of facility that they have. The criteria, of course, will be followed. We do have various funding through Early Childhood Development, whether it is daycare or other areas of programming. So we can’t really give out the community-based...which community is going to receive this. All we are saying for now is the small and remote communities will certainly benefit from this and it could be part of the Member’s riding as well. It all depends on the community infrastructure they have in place. Mahsi.
I thank the Minister for that response, and the department. There is a Dene Yati program in Fort Resolution that I am proud to see going in the school. It was very good. The Minister and I travelled to the community to the school and the kids were coming up to us and speaking Chipewyan, of course. I understand what they were saying. The kids are actually able in the community -- and I don’t think it’s happened in a little while -- to walk up to you and speak very clearly and express themselves clearly and accurately in the Chipewyan language. However, this program is not in the school in Lutselk’e. I have talked to a couple of elders and I think even an elder that may have actually worked with students in the school in Lutselk’e in the past in the Dene Yati program. I know that the Minister can’t give me the specifics that we’re getting this much money into Lutselk’e, but I am wondering if because there’s a drop, although other Members have said there’s a surplus here, because there’s a drop of close to half a million dollars in the area of aboriginal language and culture education. I’m wondering if the Minister could tell me if that money is going to support aboriginal programs in these schools right now that don’t have an aboriginal language program.
Mr. Chair, when we toured the community, it has been... I saw some positive outcomes out of it where the language spoken by the students, they can’t leave their classroom until they say a word every day. It was fascinating to observe. Those are areas we are seriously looking at through our funding criteria. The Member is asking if the money or the funds that have been lapsed could be used towards that. It would all depend on discussions with aboriginal groups. We do have representatives from, I believe, the Member’s riding. They can certainly bring that information back to their discussion table. If it’s important to them, then they can certainly make that a priority. So we will continue to push that, Mr. Chair. This is an important initiative that the school is pursing and we’d like to see more of that in other schools, where they speak the aboriginal language in a class setting. Mahsi.
Mr. Chairman, just switching gears for a second here and recognizing that library services in this area are really intended for community libraries, I am interested in if some sort of program could be put in place where this function, this task or activity I guess, could be expanded to support the library in a school. Right now, in Lutselk’e, there is no library and there is apparently a very good library in the Deninu Kue School in Fort Resolution. However, there is no library at all in Lutselk’e. I think it’s essential. Again, recognizing that this is a community library area and I’m not sure that there is such a thing as a school library area, so I will ask if this is an area where they could maybe have a joint activity to expand library services into Lutselk’e through the school. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Those types of discussions we need to have with the divisional education council. The library is an area that we continue to support, whether it be the programming into the regional centres or small community libraries. In the Member’s library in Lutselk’e, they are getting new community learning centres. It could be worked out through the college itself, but there are all these opportunities that we can discuss with the Member in that respect. At the same time, I think this is an ideal discussion that we need to have for the community of Lutselk’e.
I know that there is always talk about having libraries in schools or even community libraries. It’s not the first time we are hearing that, so we would like to continue working with the Member on this. Mahsi.
Thank you, Minister. Next on my list is Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to follow up on official languages and talk about the importance of it. It’s just interesting to note, Mr. Chair, a colleague of mine pointed out there’s actually a reduction of funding to this year, from over the revised estimates of last year, of almost $400,000. If the Minister can explain what got reduced or what is reduced for this coming fiscal year.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Minister Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, those are the funds that have been allocated to the schools, but due to low enrolment, the money has gone down a bit. It’s all based on enrolment. Mahsi.
Thank you, Minister. Next on my list I have Mr. Krutko.
One of the main things that came out of the languages committee is that languages are being threatened or being endangered or in a position of possibly being lost. I know we had a debate the last number of days on caribou and I think a lot of aboriginal cultures and languages are in a similar predicament if you look at the possibility of losing culture and language and it’s important to the aboriginal people. Have you looked at the possibility of emergency-type funding for certain language groups that are threatened by way of extinction, such as the Gwich’in language group that I represent and I think that the Inuvialuit are also seeing a decrease in those language speakers. Is that something that your department is considering in light of the report that came forward?
Thank you Mr. Krutko. Minister Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. We have identified some of the regions are losing their languages rapidly and we are currently dealing with that through our language groups and the continuous discussion with the federal, three territorial Ministers... We have had a teleconference just late last week and, Mr. Chairman, I am taking a lead role in the language and culture preservation on behalf of the three territorial governments to push at the federal level. I have identified the Gwich’in especially, because they are losing their language fast. Even the Tlicho, even though we have a strong language environment, we are losing it, as well, through the younger generation. So, Mr. Chairman, this is very important to us, that is why we are having this Language Symposium. We are going to have a variety of speakers on how we should preserve or even revitalize our language through curriculum development and, yes, Mr. Chairman, this is an area we continue to stress at the federal level and even within our territorial level as well, three territories. Mahsi.
I have been working with Darius Cassidy from the Yukon in regards to seeing if they can look at a similar process that we have formulated in this House by way of forming a languages committee or commission to look at how we deal with languages over here and have passed on information on previous commissions we established, because they are in the same dilemma we are. So I am glad to hear from the Minister that he is working with his northern colleagues, because I think that is the approach that we are going to have to take in order to get some attention to this issue, because, I mean, no offense to the French, but they used the constitutional argument but I think we also have to use the argument under Section 91 and also Section 35 of the Constitution, which talks about preserving and protecting aboriginal culture and not only looking at the rights but looking at the cultural side of aboriginal people.
Again, I would like to thank the Minister for that as I think it is important we do whatever we can. But I was looking more in light of some sort of special fund we can establish so that we basically are able to do unique things to enhance those languages. I think one of the areas we have to really focus on is in regards to the younger students, either in preschool or kindergarten, and work in that group taking it through the education system. I think that is one way and I think that is the avenue we have to focus on to actually get those children educated in their language, using their language but use it as they move on and make it more of a working language in those communities. Because I think one thing that we found talking to other language organizations, regardless of whether it is Welsh or other languages around the world, is that you have to be able to develop it into the curriculum and find that as a means, and also into peoples’ homes. Again, I would like to encourage the Minister to try to find unique types of funding, regardless if it is through federal funding or whatnot, to try to retain or enhance those languages that are being threatened. Thank you.
I totally agree with the Member that we definitely need to stress the importance of preserving our language or even our cultural way of life. Every opportunity we get with the federal Ministers that are here... Just recently Minister Strahl was here and I reminded him that there is a proposal that is coming, because I did meet with Minister Strahl in December and although we had a discussion about losing our language, I did touch on the Gwich’in as well. I use Gwich’in as an example when I meet with these officials. It was a very productive meeting where we talked about the submission of a proposal and just the other day they reminded us about where the status is on, so the three territories getting in line will certainly make a lot of noise to the Heritage Minister, Mr. Moore. Those are the ongoing pressures that we are putting on the federal government. Certainly those two Ministers will be out here in March and we’ll continue to work with them. I am glad the Member is raising this issue, because it is high importance for us. Mahsi.
Again, I would like to touch on the area of education K to 12. I know there was a political decision -- I think it was made back in the 12th Assembly -- to consider looking at K to 12 in all communities in the Northwest Territories. I think that just like anything else, it worked in some communities but it didn’t work in all communities. I think that we should somehow look at and assess the progress or the faults of the, I don’t want to say experiment, but I think that in most cases it was a plus for most communities where students are able to stay in the home communities, be part of the family unit. You don’t have to leave home, you can get educated in your home community, but in some cases, that issue still exists and I think that we do have to find ways of assessing that decision. But, more importantly, practically, are we implementing the policy as it was discussed in the 12th Assembly? In the 12th Assembly we were part of 51 communities which included ourselves and Nunavut and I think because of the challenges of the time that the concept was thrown out there, we were dealing with even a lot smaller communities than we are talking about here in the West today, and yet the policy was to instruct and seriously look at that. Again, I feel quite strongly that we have to be able to somehow develop assistance.
I know you talked about expanding our bandwidth in our communities and giving them that technology, but again, you have to have someone on the ground by way of a technician ensuring that they give them the expertise, the knowledge that they are going to need in how to use the system, how does the system work, understand the system and make the students make the best use of that system, but you still are going to have to hire people to implement the system. We have to find ways of dealing with that and I feel quite strongly that we do have to find some workable solution and I think that we can’t say that, well, you know, it is up to the education boards. I think that we have to find a unique way of progressing on this one.
Again, I would like to ask the Minister if he would seriously consider going back and looking at what was discussed back then and, more importantly, are we achieving the results we were hoping for back then from the 12th Assembly to where we are today in 10 years.
We can certainly look at that. We are, through discussions with the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, it does cover in that respect as well. We also talked about K to 12 members talking in the area of greater extension into the communities. Some are working, some are not working, but I think that needs to be identified through the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative that is currently in discussion right now and devolving in a package by this year. That would certainly capture that. There are other issues or opportunities before us, so, Mr. Chairman, this will certainly be reviewed with the committee. Mahsi.
Thank you Minister Lafferty. I have nobody else on the list here. Mr. Jacobson.
Just in regard to Mangilaluk School in regard to the motion that I would like to be bringing forward. I brought one forward last year in regard to the unique position that overcrowding in Mangilaluk School for the library and the 35 teachers and whatnot and there’s 35 staff having to share one bathroom and the library is being utilized for an office. I put a motion in last year in regard to the extension for Mangilaluk School and I think that, again, I would strongly want support from my colleagues in regard to a motion that I’ll be bringing forward here shortly in regard to that.
Mr. Minister, just regarding last year, I made a motion in the House for the Mangilaluk School extension. I’d like to see where he’s at with it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Minister Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, that school, as we talked about earlier, will be part of the next year’s capital planning process. We have the report back from Mr. Kindt highlighting the required space in the school, as the Member has referred to in his Member’s statement. I think it is time to look at that on a going forward basis, so this will be part of the next year’s planning cycle. Mahsi.
Again, I thank the Minister for the report that was done on Mangilaluk School. The situation in the Mangilaluk School, I’m happy to hear the Minister on a go forward basis on the funding for next year, but I still feel strongly enough that I do want to put a motion into the House. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. I didn’t hear a question there. Mr. Minister.
Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we are clearly listening to the Member and I appreciate the persistence that he’s been pushing forward. We are seriously going to consider this school for next year’s budget planning cycle. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Jacobson, do you have a motion? Go forward.
Yes, I do, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that the committee strongly recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment work in close cooperation with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council to take all the steps necessary to establish a full-time high school teacher position in Sachs Harbour for 2010-11…
Wrong motion, Mr. Speaker. That’s my second one. I’m speaking on the Mangilaluk School extension.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The motion is being distributed. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question is being called.
---Carried
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Committee, we’re on page 10-17, activity summary, Education, Culture and Employment, education and culture, operations expenditure summary. Mr. Krutko.
I, too, will be coming forward with a similar motion in regard to the community of Tsiigehtchic, because I believe that the community should have a high school teacher in the community. I think that if you’re going to deliver grades kindergarten to grade 9 and then also high school, you should have more than two teachers in a community. I think you can’t expect people to carry that large workload and, more importantly, expect to have quality education being provided in those communities. So, again, I will be bringing forward a similar motion dealing with the community of Tsiigehtchic. I think that it’s a similar arrangement as Sachs Harbour and I, again, will be coming forward with a motion.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Go forward with your motion.
Mr. Chair, I move that committee strongly recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment work closely in close cooperation with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council to take all steps necessary to establish a full-time high school teacher position in Tsiigehtchic for the 2010-11 school year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The motion is being distributed. The motion is in order.
Question.
Question is being called.
---Carried
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Committee, I’m about to recognize the clock, but before we do, we’re on page 10-17, activity summary, Education, Culture and Employment, education and culture, operations expenditure summary, $181.532 million. Agreed? Ms. Bisaro has a comment. Go ahead, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to let you know I have questions. I thought you were going to recognize the clock. I can ask the questions tomorrow as long as we don’t close the page. Thank you.
Can I have the report of Committee of the Whole, please, Mr. Bromley?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 62-16(4), NWT Main Estimates, 2010-2011, and would like to report progress, with two motions being adopted. I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Do we have a seconder? The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
---Carried
