Alfred Moses

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 837-18(2): Deletion of Moose Kerr School Retrofit" and "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 899-18(2): Small Community Employment Support Program." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In our Northern Studies 10 course, which is mandatory for all of our students across the Northwest Territories, one part of the Northern Studies 10 program is having the students participate in the blanket exercise. Just like our teachers, we want to make sure our next generation of youth understand the history and legacy of residential schools in the Northwest Territories, and as I mentioned earlier, the impact that it had on our residents or families in our communities, and to make sure that our students are well aware of that as well.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That will be in 2018-2019. We did get a technical status evaluation in March of 2017, and we had to look at the recommendations and put it back in the books, and looking at 2018-2019.

Yes, we did start doing some work on the action plan. I do want to inform the Member and Members of the House that we're currently in negotiations with the Government of Canada on a bilateral agreement that will include an early learning and childcare action plan that does outline spending over a three-year period that will take us to the end of this government. Mind you, it's not a universal childcare action plan, but it will be an action plan that will help guide us in early childhood programming and services to the end of this government.

Yes, we are still using the Phase 1 classrooms that were completed. As well, as I mentioned, we are still utilizing the community learning centre.

We are currently working on that legislation. I don't have a time frame for right now, but once I do get more details, I will share it with the Member. Thank you.

Phase 2 of the school will be done next year. Just to give the Member a little heads up, we are continuing to meet with the community, and the school and the staff, just to make sure that they are up to date on how progress is moving, as well as some of the concerns that were brought up last year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I believe Aurora Research Institute is already doing that type of work and continuing to promote other types of education opportunities, as I mentioned. The mandate, actually, for the Aurora Research Institute is to improve the quality of life for NWT residents by applying scientific, technological, and Indigenous knowledge to solve Northern problems and advance social and economic goals, which is a goal and a mandate of this government. I believe Aurora Research Institute is already doing this and will continue to promote innovative ways of education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. All projects are still a go except Mangilaluk School, which has been deferred for one year.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize the Northern Youth Abroad staff and alumni, and thank them for joining us here today, and the great work that they do, and the great partnership that they have with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you.