Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member's statement, I have a couple of questions for the Minister of ECE. As the department develops the junior kindergarten implementation plan that reflects the recent motion, how will they communicate ongoing developments to current program providers and to communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
As we move forward into the implementation of junior kindergarten and some of the recommendations that were made out of the motion we'll continue to engage with child day homes, day care centres, as well as Aboriginal Head Start in making sure that the transition to junior kindergarten is moved in a good manner, and that we share all the information moving forward. We do understand some of the concerns that are coming specifically out of the Member's region and we're trying to work on addressing those.
Going forward from today, what avenues will current program providers and communities have to approach the department with their questions and concerns about junior kindergarten?
As I mentioned, Aboriginal Head Start in particular is one that we've heard some concerns. Our staff has sat down with the managers and the staff on numerous occasions. We've also had the superintendents of the Beaufort-Delta Education Council work with the schools and Aboriginal Head Start to make sure that it's moving forward in a good manner and the working relationship is good.
We continue to do those consultations with Aboriginal Head Start, as well as all our other early childhood providers. As I mentioned, on August 24th we met with the Canadian Public Health Agency of Canada to inform Aboriginal Head Start that their funding is not going to be affected with the implementation of junior kindergarten. So any concerns that Aboriginal Head Start has in terms of implementation in 2017-2018, we still want to have those engagements and have those concerns brought forward to the department and we'll continue to share that information and have those dialogues.
There are a number of people in my riding that have a lot of questions. I'd like to ask the Minister if he would be willing to travel to the communities to do a tour, whether it's in January or December. I know he's very busy, but if the Minister has time, would he accompany me on a tour?
As I mentioned on many occasions, since I've been in the position I've been to 20 out of the 33 communities in the NWT. We've seen some successful junior kindergarten programs in some of the regions that have been implementing them, whether it's the first year or even the third year. So I'd be more than happy to join the Member on a community tour and look at the programs, early childhood programs, in this community.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
