Alfred Moses
Statements in Debates
Thank you. Mr. Speaker. As Members are aware, there were public hearings here, in Yellowknife, as well as Hay River. Actually, in Hay River, it was more of one that we had meetings with the Hay River District Education Authority to get more feedback. That consultation is done. We’re just getting the information gathered together. We will be making recommendations. We will be meeting with our department staff, and we will be making a statement very soon on where that ministerial directive is going.
Yes, we’ll get our staff to work with the education authority to see how we can address the space issue down in Ndilo.
Ideally we’d like the school boards to come up with a solution to adjust the issue. Our department is working with both school boards to see how we can adjust some of the space sharing agreements. We’re looking at trying to make some decisions here. Our department is going to be working with the education authorities to see how we can adjust some of that space sharing concerns in Hay River and with the gymnasiums as well.
In the past months that I’ve been Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, we’ve been having meetings with a lot of different parties. We’re trying to build a strong relationship moving forward and letting them understand that we are moving forward on the court case issue. Spacesharing agreements, it’s a little tougher in Hay River in terms of addressing some of the issues there. Here, in Yellowknife, I believe we will have it all straightened out come fall time, and we are still having those discussions in Hay River to address their concerns. Our department is working with the education...
We should have that decision ready and the announcement made before the 201617 academic year, so before the fall. Families, community members will be ready to know the decision that’s going to be made with that ministerial directive.
Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, when the school was constructed in 2009, the activity space for recreation and leisure was fit to the school code under the NWT Schools Capital Standards and Criteria policy which was in 2005 developed. We will work with the education authority and do a visit to the school to see how we can address this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we are aware of the situation down at Ndilo with K’alemi Dene School. Just a little bit of information there: in 2009, when the school was built with our NWT Schools Capital Standards and Criteria, when a school has a targeted enrolment of anywhere from 50 to 150, 70 square metres for recreational use is met to with a design in the school. In K’alemi Dene School, there is an 85squaremetre activity room. I do understand the situation, though, in terms of utilization rates. Once a school reaches 85 per cent, then our department works with the district education...
I'm losing my voice here. I was back home doing a lot of talking over the last few days, and a lot of speeches the last couple of days as well. Unfortunately, during session time we are-- there's a lot of meetings that go on here in the House as well as session and going through our budget process. However, my schedule doesn't really confirm that I'd be able to meet before the 30th, although I will commit that officials in my department are available to meet before the 30th. Should a time open up that I might have some time, I will also look forward to trying to meet ahead of time. I know...
The department is committed to working with all our partners throughout the Northwest Territories. The Yellowknives Dene First Nations is a key stakeholder; obviously they are involved in a lot of the socio-economic agreements that we have with the mines. We're working with all partners that are involved in adult post-secondary education and skills training to support NWT residents. With the skills knowledge and attitudes for employment success we are committed to continuing working with Yellowknives Dene First Nation in how we can focus on developing the skills as well as the education, post...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, we held the 7th Annual Education Hall of Fame celebrating individuals for their hard work and dedication through education, across the Northwest Territories. We have a bunch of inductees here today, role models, mentors, and very respected elders. I would like to recognize our Beaufort Delta recipient from Inuvik, Ms. Sarah Jerome; our Deh Cho recipient from Fort Simpson, Valerie Gendron; our Sahtu recipient from Tulita, Vivian Pellissey; South Slave recipient from Fort Smith, Ms. Jane Dragon; our North Slave recipient from Yellowknife, Ms. Rita Mueller. And...