Charles Dent

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good afternoon. Today, I would like to inform Members about the NWT Literacy Council’s community book drive.

We all know children who are read to at home do better in school. Reading is one of the best things we can do at any age to increase and maintain our own levels of literacy. With this in mind, for the last several years the NWT Literacy Council has held an annual book drive.

Those who have books to spare may drop them off at locations throughout the city of Yellowknife or at Government of the Northwest Territories offices in Fort Smith, Fort Simpson, Hay River...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I said, this is definitely part of the curriculum already. It’s something we can work on with our partners in the education system to find out if we need to strengthen the resources that are available. If they do, we will certainly look to do that. We do encourage the schools to take advantage of partnerships with the RCMP, Health and Social Services and other caregivers in the communities to make sure the resources are brought into the classroom to help with this whole process. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I can’t answer the question as to how many minutes or hours might be involved, but I can say that our curriculum includes the teaching of issues around additions starting from the earliest grades. There is a much heavier emphasis in the health curriculum by the time students get to the junior high level and then it carries on into the high school. It is something that is included in all levels of schooling in the discussions. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have tremendous confidence in the people who administer and deliver the education program in the Northwest Territories and I spoke about that earlier today in the successes that we’ve seen in education. We have a tremendous cadre of professional people who are well qualified to deliver the programs that are offered in education across the Territories.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The population in that facility today may be totally different in 18 months, so I can't speak for where the kids may be able to go in 18 months. I can tell you, as far as I know, Hay River has more than two schools.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It wasn't an issue that was brought to the Cabinet table by Education, Culture and Employment. It was a proposal by the Minister of Health and Social Services. However, I would say Education, Culture and Employment is prepared to ensure the children, no matter which community they are located in, receive the appropriate services. When I talked about the money, I was talking about making sure that we had the money to pay the salaries of the people that would be required to provide those services. That will follow the children.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. One of the visiting students has been hosted by the Bannon family in my constituency, and that is Etienne Miquel from France.

---Applause

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am confident that we can support the same sort of program that we support now through Education, Culture and Employment in any community. As I said, for the students at the centre right now, Education, Culture and Employment funds one teacher. As well, the children are encouraged to get back into the regular school system. So obviously as they work into the school system they are going to be working with the teachers in the community, and that’s going to happen no matter where the program is offered. So what the department will do is make sure that if the...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, if the program is moved to Hay River, which is at this point a proposal, it has to go through the business planning process. If the program is moved, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment will work with the DEC and the DEA to make sure that the same level of support is provided by the department in whatever community the program moves to as is provided in Yellowknife. So we will make sure that the expert assistance that is required through the educational system is available wherever this program is offered. Thank you.

I was offended that the Member would make the statements she was making, categorizing some of the people in other communities as not being as capable.