Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s high time we overhaul our education system in the North. I’m so glad that’s finally happening today. The Minister has done a lot of public consultation that will go on throughout the summer. It is especially important that we listen to the small communities, both parents and leaders.
I want to talk about what is at stake. We’re talking about the future of our children, our future as a territory where our children have the skills and knowledge they will need to live well in this world. Will they have the tools to solve their own problems and create their own future?
Every one of us cares deeply about our residents back in our ridings at home and even here in Yellowknife. Our education needs overhauling. If left unchecked and have the attitude that it’s good enough, I say no. I believe our children are better than good enough.
A few years ago a study was done for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, as it was called then, to show the financial benefits of improving the education of Aboriginal people. Here is what they found out. If an Aboriginal student reaches the same level as other students, benefits and savings would be huge. Huge! Over 20 years, tax revenue in the Northwest Territories would increase by $666 million. Savings in program spending would be about $1.2 billion. That is a $2 billion benefit, my friends, plus the improvement of many, many lives. That is the federal government talking, not me.
Our own government research shows that this is true. When we improve the education, we improve the people’s health and the cost of health care. We increase employment, we create business and jobs, reduce the number of children in the care of child and family services, we reduce family violence and all sorts of crimes. We save a lot in the justice and correctional system and this is good.
There are reasons we need to succeed in overhauling our education system. It must work well for everyone in the Northwest Territories and that means fixing it where it’s failing: in the small communities. I have said this for years and we have to do the right thing. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
