Thanks, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Recently the Minister issued a directive with respect to enrolment in French first-language schools in the Northwest Territories, stating that those admitted for enrolment in these schools will be entitled under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and/or by Ministerial approval.
I’d like to ask the Minister: how does this directive differ or vary from the practice that has been in place in the past with respect to enrolment?
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The directive went out to the Members and the communities requesting their input by the 20th of this month. One of the directives is to have the right-holders only allowed in those particular schools: the French schools. Right now it is an open door policy, where any individuals from the community can access their school and take pre-schooling and then a French immersion program. From there they are considered right-holders at that facility.
With respect to the proposed directive — it doesn’t sound like it’s been adopted yet — I was just wondering about consultation with various stakeholders on this issue and if this proposed directive met with the approval of or agreement from the French first-language school board for the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, my department has been meeting with the Francophone School Board, the citizens of the French group and the Hay River DEA. We’ve been working with them to find solutions to the additional space problem, another area we are working on. The discussion on the right-holders-only enrolment part was also raised at those meetings.
There’s been some consultation in the community of Hay River. From there it also has an impact on the Yellowknife perspective. Like I said, we’re waiting until this coming Friday the 20th to seek some input from the Francophone communities and the communities of Hay River and Yellowknife. The community members will provide input into what’s been directed.
Specifically to Hay River residents, how would they be made aware of their ability to comment or participate in this consultation with respect to this directive?
The letters have gone out to the Hay River MLA and to the schools. They are made aware that this is a directive that has been proposed. In return they can certainly write to the department — to me — identifying their concerns or issues or providing any feedback. which will certainly be taken into consideration. We’re expecting some response from the community members.
The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
