Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This motion is partly in response to the results of our educational programs, which have created a situation where we have students graduating with a diploma which does not prepare them for the post-secondary education that they wish to take on. Unfortunately, when I went to school we had vocational and matriculation diplomas and it was very clear what they prepared you for in terms of post-secondary. Today we don’t have that.
I know the Minister is aware of this and is working with committees and others, his staff, to make sure that we plug that hole, but in the meantime we have created a bolus of people of various ages now that have these deficient Grade 12 diplomas. There is a federal program UCEP, which is available for students to help with their upgrading, but it’s insufficient for the demand that has been created, and it’s only applicable to status Indians and Inuit under the DIAND program.
There is overwhelming evidence, Mr. Speaker, that investing in education pays big dividends. We’re facing issues of poverty and unemployment and participation in society. These will all be benefited and resolved through this action. I look forward to any other comments, but I will be supporting this motion, obviously, and will be requesting a recorded vote.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the comments of all my colleagues who chose to speak today. Of course I think it’s well established that UCEP does exist out there, but it runs out early every year and is insufficient to meet the need.
Mr. Speaker, I realize that because of our failed educational system and our lack of adequate counselling so even parents don’t realize that their students are getting an inadequate education or diploma until long after they graduate, this situation where we have been responsible creates a responsibility for dealing with it. The Minister has made some reference to upcoming action, which I think we all look forward as a solution and in response to this motion, but there are clearly gaps out there. As those of us that listen closely to our constituents have heard repeatedly, Mr. Speaker, I assure the Minister and all in the House that we have not picked this motion out of the air.
We have slowly achieved greater graduation rates. We are now up to 55 percent in the Northwest Territories, and I think that shows that we are working hard on this. We still have a long ways to go. However, if our students are graduating with certificates or diplomas that are hollow in terms of their potential to pursue post-secondary, it’s not getting them where we want them to be able to go. That’s exactly what this motion is attempting to address.
We need an extra effort and a fund specifically to address this. I’m not expecting that we’re going to be able to fund all those 100 students in the first year, Mr. Speaker. What I’m saying is we have a gap here. We do not have sufficient funding for the demand that’s out there. Let’s improve that. We have this bolus of people… I’m hoping that the department will actually deal with this problem so we don’t have it any longer. In the meantime, we do have this situation where we have perhaps half a generation of graduates with inadequacies in terms of their ability to pursue their goals.
As the motion recognizes, there are some options out there, as we’ve heard and as the motion points out, but these are insufficient options for a number of reasons: financial capacity issues, barriers to accessing programs, young people who are starting out with their families and facing unique problems associated with that. Those that would speak out against this motion show a lack of insight into the issue that people in our small communities are facing and are bringing to our attention. This motion is specifically to respond to that.
Mr. Speaker, this is particularly good timing in recognition of the Minister’s comments that he’s conducting a review of student financial assistance, so I appreciate his mentioning that fact. I would expect that solutions will be included in that review to this situation. I look forward to those solutions.
Once again, Mr. Speaker, this motion is all about giving people the opportunity to pursue their goals in terms of learning and the opportunities to fulfill their potential as human beings and members of our communities. I appreciate the support of the House. Mr. Speaker, I do request a recorded vote. Mahsi.
Mr. Bromley, Mr. Abernethy, Mr. Menicoche, Mr. Ramsay, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Yakeleya, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you. All those opposed to the motion, please stand.
Mr. Hawkins.
All those abstaining from the motion, please stand.
Mr. Lafferty; Ms. Lee; Mr. McLeod, Deh Cho; Mr. McLeod, Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mr. McLeod, Yellowknife South.
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Results of the motion: In favour of the motion, 8; opposed, 1; abstaining 5. The motion is carried.
---Carried
The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I clearly support this motion and I think it is a good thing. I believe strongly that the public inclusion and collaboration on future development of land and resources and our management regime are critical.
Mr. Speaker, I think the public needs to be involved and we need to find a way that does involve them in the appropriate way that we do business. Mr. Speaker, that does not mean we advocate or I should say I advocate that we negotiate in public with our devolution agreements through our AIP being posted on the web or who knows how they get there, but the reality is that public consultation and collaboration needs to be done and enshrined in our process that we show and demonstrate that we are working towards a final outcome someday, representing their values and aspirations. That is what needs to be done. It can’t be soon, but it needs to be clearly demonstrated.
This motion speaks to the process of working towards a method that includes our public and showing that we don’t just care for them, we also hear their concerns. We are working with their dreams.
Mr. Speaker, again, I will be supporting the motion. I am not sure if the seconder usually asks for a recorded vote, but in case it gets missed at this time, I will make sure I request it this time. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The Member has requested a recorded vote. All those in favour of the motion please stand.
Mr. Yakeleya, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Abernethy, Mr Ramsay, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Hawkins.
All those opposed to the motion please stand. All those abstaining from the motion, please stand.
Mr. Lafferty; Ms. Lee; Mr. McLeod, Deh Cho; Mr. McLeod, Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mr. McLeod, Yellowknife South; Mr. Jacobson.
The results of the recorded vote: all those in favour, 7; those opposed, 0; those abstaining, 6.
---Carried
---Applause
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 4-16(5), Executive Summary of the Report of the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project; Tabled Document 30-16(5), 2010 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits; Tabled Document 38-16(5), Supplementary Health Benefits – What We Heard; Tabled Document 62-16(5), Northwest Territories Water Stewardship Strategy; Tabled Document 75-16(5), Response to the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project on the Federal and Territorial Governments’ Interim Response to “Foundation for a Sustainable Northern Future;” Table Document 103-16(5), GNWT Contracts Over $5,000 Report, Year Ending March 31, 2010; Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act; and Minister’s Statement 65-16(5), Devolution Agreement-in-Principle, Impact on Land Claims and Protection of Aboriginal Rights, with Mr. Krutko in the chair.
