Debates of October 21, 2005 (day 15)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I spoke highly of the importance of literacy, so I have a question to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister please tell the House how much money is being spent annually on adult basic education programs, and also, specifically, the percentage to the smaller communities? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 214-15(4): Adult Basic Education

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can answer some of that question quite easily. Adult literacy and basic education programming in the Northwest Territories has a budget of $2.4 million. We've had programming offered in 30 of the 33 communities in the Northwest Territories. To list off the percentage though, I can't do that. I have my listing here by dollars by community, and I would be happy to share that with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 214-15(4): Adult Basic Education

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell this Assembly what is being done to identify the specific needs of each community in terms of adult basic education, or does the Minister subscribe to the philosophy of one size fits all? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 214-15(4): Adult Basic Education

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, clearly, one size doesn't fit all. We have a number of different options in different communities. In some communities, the adult educator and the principal of the school work together to provide different types of programming, so that it's not all the same sort of curriculum. In other communities, there's more of a challenge to get the community to work together. But it is up to the adult educator and the college to work with the community, and the expectation is that they will work with the communities, to determine what is most appropriate for delivery in that community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 214-15(4): Adult Basic Education

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, research indicates that people with low literacy are twice as likely not to have jobs, or to access training and ABE programs. What is the Minister doing to ensure that literacy programs meet the needs of NWT residents, in order for them to improve their quality of life and take advantage of economic opportunities? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 214-15(4): Adult Basic Education

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the Member brings a lot of passion to this issue, because he has a history of involvement in literacy, and particularly working with the college. He is absolutely right. We know the figures. We know that people in the North are much less likely to be working if they don't have an adequate education. Since 2003, we've had four literacy funds that have been administered by our regional offices, including the workplace education fund, the community skills for Work, community literacy projects, and literacy programs and support for seniors. Those are some of the extra things that we are doing, in order to ensure that we have more money available for different kinds of literacy programming in various communities.

We have also, just in the last couple of years, agreed to core funding for the NWT Literacy Council, and we've managed to maintain and slightly increase their funding over the last year, to help them help community organizations better deliver literacy programming. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 214-15(4): Adult Basic Education

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we know that many people in the Northwest Territories with low literacy skills are employed. We also know that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment cut the support of workplace literacy funding last year, Mr. Speaker. How is the government supporting workplace literacy? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 214-15(4): Adult Basic Education

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the amount of money that was cut from the workplace literacy budget last year was the amount that historically had not been taken up by employers. If we can find a way to increase the number of applications coming in from employers to take advantage of that money, I can tell the Member that I'll go to bat to try and find money to increase that budget. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.