Debates of February 9, 2017 (day 51)

Date
February
9
2017
Session
18th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
51
Members Present
Hon. Glen Abernethy, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Blake, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Ms. Green, Hon. Jackson Lafferty, Hon. Bob McLeod, Hon. Robert McLeod, Mr. McNeely, Hon. Alfred Moses, Mr. Nadli, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. O’Reilly, Hon. Wally Schumann, Hon. Louis Sebert, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Vanthuyne
Topics
Statements

Written Question 1718(2): Impact of Proposed Aurora College Program Changes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these are written questions addressed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment:

With the elimination of the Teacher Education Program, how does the government intend to meet our obligations to Section 62 of the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which states, “Provide the necessary funding to post-secondary institutions to educate teachers on how to integrate Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods into classrooms”?

In the absence of a program to train teachers, how will the government maintain the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s call in Section 63 of “an annual commitment to Aboriginal education issues, including 'developing and implementing Kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum and teaching resources on Aboriginal Canadians in Canadian history, and the history and legacy of residential schools'”?

Upon elimination of the Social Worker Training Program, and given the dire social deficit in the territory and the immediate hiring of social work program graduates, what is the government’s plan going forward to provide competent, homegrown social support services and personnel in Northwest Territories communities?

Our own mandate of the 18th Assembly commits us to “foster lifelong learning, skills development, training, and employability” through “increasing K-12 support systems”, “expanding opportunities for post-secondary education”, and “increasing cultural programming in education,” among other goals. If the government has decided it is unnecessary to train our own Northern teachers, what is the plan for achieving these elements of our mandate?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Masi. Written questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.