Mr. Speaker, today I am speaking on the lack of high school student accommodations. I remember my first days in secondary school a long time ago. It was very scary, new friends, new pressures, and new environment. For most students from small isolated communities, it is a new place to live, due to the fact that most small communities do not have a high school. Many students leave their strong family support network and go to a larger community such as Inuvik. Unfortunately, what seems to be a growing trend in many regional centres is students are finding it harder and harder to find suitable student accommodations. That is just a shame of this government. These inadequacies are a perfect example of differences between the communities and the lack of government initiatives and an effort to resolve them. We have all heard time and time again one of the pillars of this government is equal accessibility of a high level of education for all northern students. I try not to use the American cliché, leave no child behind policy. So if this is the case, then why is this government not living up to the commitments for both parents and students?
The recent closure of these homes for the students, many regional centres across the Northwest Territories, has emphasized these problems. Students embarking on a new adventure in school, a new place, should not have to worry about having a safe, reliable roof over their heads. The necessities of life must be given to them, must be supported 110 percent by this government. Anything else would only be the shame of this series of derelictions of responsibilities. Many of us who have lived in the North for a long time have all heard the challenges. Problems and statistics related to students in small isolated communities and hearing situations makes me wonder if these are some of the causes and if this government is truly serious about our children’s education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
