Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Along the same lines of Mr. Menicoche, the government seems to be forgetting our small communities and the students. The students in the smaller communities are basically the future of our riding. Given that currently there are many students in Nunakput that for various reasons have left high school and moved back to their home communities, reasons such as nowhere to live or not enough moral support or resources, will the government immediately commit to funds and resources for the one high school teacher or students who could at least earn some high school courses in the community of Sachs Harbour? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Simply, we are not forgetting the students out there. We are covering the northern students, the isolated students, and also the students of the Northwest Territories. We provide funding to the school boards so they can sponsor those students in their schools, in their regions, as well as supporting them going through a transition of another community. So those are the support mechanisms that we provide through the school boards, Mr. Speaker.
At the same time, my department is working closely with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council to make it effective and efficient when students are attending from isolated communities. So we will continue to push the school board. The final decision also lies with the school board, Mr. Speaker. I have to respect that and we have to work with them. Mahsi.
I have been here for three and a half years and I have been hearing that same answer regarding my Member’s statement that I have brought up every session regarding students in Sachs Harbour. The final decision is your decision. You could make a Minister’s directive to do it. I am asking the Minister why can’t he help the smaller communities, especially Sachs Harbour that needs a teacher in the community this year. If not, we should get a house in Inuvik slated to have students under a boarding home for students from Sachs Harbour alone for a safe place to live. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
At the beginning, also mid-term and at the end of our term we were told not to make any major or drastic changes...
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...with the current government system. At the same time, again, this is an area that we need to seriously look at with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council. We provide funding to them so they can deliver those key deliverances into the communities and regions as well.
Yes, the Member has raised that issue in the House. At the same time, the Member should also be raising that issue with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council because we are working hand in hand with them. I need to work with them to strengthen those ties because, again, we provide funding through them to the region. Mahsi.
I haven’t given up on the students in my riding. Maybe this government has. Will this government conduct a thorough review on why so many high school students from the small, isolated communities are dropping out on behalf of the small communities committee? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Clearly, we are not giving up on the students. We are supporting all students of the Northwest Territories. We represent 33 communities. Through the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, the tabling of the document in this House, clearly highlights the strategy that’s in place to identify those students who are struggling, those students from isolated communities, and those students who may be challenged. Those are the people that we need to continue to work with. It’s a new document. It’s going to strengthen the communities, it’s going to strengthen the education system of the Northwest Territories. I’m looking forward to working on that joint implementation stages, working with all the MLAs, Aboriginal leadership, educators as well, the parents, and the students.
Those are the new initiatives that are underway. Clearly, we are seeing some changes. Sometimes it does take time, but time is of the essence, so I tabled the document and I’m looking forward to establishing that as well. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Your final supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, the cost is very minimal to provide housing in Inuvik, especially when you have a house lined up and ready for us to come in with students from the community. I wonder if the Minister would get in touch with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council with myself to see how far we can take this. School is about nine days away from starting in the Beaufort-Delta. Is it possible to get something done? It doesn’t cost as much as a bridge.
---Laughter
We will definitely follow through with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council. It could be small, but at the same time we have to respect all the regions. It’s not just one region that is faced with a challenge. At the same time, we’ll definitely follow through. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
