Charles Dent

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would certainly like to hear if there are problems in communities in terms of there being a willing partner to work with us in training. I would like to know about it if there's a problem having us take advantage of it. We are always anxious to work with partners to make sure training can take place. I think in the past we've been pretty good through the regional offices. The staff have been very aggressive at finding partners and making sure that there are opportunities. But if something seems to be slipping through our fingers and if the Member hears about...

Mr. Chairman, I’m not aware. I think there were three boards in the Northwest Territories that were charging fees. I know that at the meeting with the board Chairs that at least one of the Chairs did mention a number, but I can’t remember what that amount was; I’m sorry.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I think this is an issue that there's an interest for this in high schools right across the Territories. There is a lot of demand for improvement in this kind of programming.

When we had the meeting here on February 24th and 25th with the Chairs of all the DECs, we took an opportunity to talk about partnerships and we talked specifically about this kind of training. The Yellowknife Catholic Schools here have an example of how, through a partnership arrangement, they have managed to put together a fairly good operation. The people from Yellowknife...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If the Member is referring to secondary schooling, then the answer is it would not be likely. If the Member is talking about post-secondary schooling, we currently support students to take their schooling in other jurisdictions if that is where they choose to find that it’s best to do it. There are a number of aboriginal organizations that help their members to top up from student financial assistance to ensure that they can achieve at a higher level if that will help them. That sort of process is always going to be available, but I am not sure that we would be...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I can certainly ask Public Works to have a look at the lease.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning. Tomorrow, Saturday, March 20th, will culminate a week of international celebration as Francophones and Francophiles throughout the Northwest Territories join with people in India, Senegal, and Egypt, among others, to honour their culture and heritage through Francophonie Day.

(Translation) This day was created in 1998 as a way for the ensemble of people who speak the French and Creole languages to celebrate their common bond. Honoured over five continents and uniting over 170 million speakers, French speakers join together with the United Nations to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In comparison to other jurisdictions, the amount of support that is provided to a parent who is staying home to look after children is very good in the Northwest Territories. The feeling is that the program, as it’s designed, in fact, does accommodate that desire. For instance, those jurisdictions like Newfoundland which have allowed the straight flow through, even though there is a high cost of living in many of the smaller communities in Newfoundland and Labrador, their level of support is nowhere near what we provide to individuals living in the Northwest Territories...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, on the first day of this session, Mr. Yakeleya rose to speak about celebrating Aboriginal Languages Month. He spoke with passion about his own language and culture and how important that has been shaping the person he is today.

I would also like to recognize the importance of Aboriginal Languages Month.

Mr. Speaker, this month we celebrate the important role language and culture play in the daily lives of many of our residents. Aboriginal languages provide a way for aboriginal people to maintain and express their culture, traditions and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t answer if it’s been on the same percentage that the NCBS has increased, but in fact the food rates have increased this winter to reflect increased costs. We do an annual survey now and adjust the food basket rates on a regular basis rather than waiting until we get way behind. I would be quite prepared to provide the Member with what the percentage increase might be in the program.

I can also say that I’ve had some discussion with the department, and the fact that the NCBS has increased is one of the aspects we’re considering and will be discussing as part of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the national child benefit supplement has three purposes to it, as posed by the federal government. One is to create attachment to the workforce, another is to reduce child poverty, and the third is to reduce overlap and duplication of programs and services. I can tell the Member that I was at the table when this was initially set up and that one of the biggest concerns from the federal representatives there was in fact making sure that the program was aimed at people who are working and to ensure that there was an attachment to the workforce. The way...