Charles Dent

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.

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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.

Madam Speaker, the Member has presented herself as an expert as to whether or not the people in Yellowknife are more expert themselves than the people in the other communities. I don’t accept that. I would say that we have people with the same qualifications available to us across the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, no, the department, as I said earlier today, wasn't consulted on the proposal. I have every confidence that the education system in any of our communities can handle the support that is required. The department provides funding for a teacher at the facility and the expectation is that the youngsters will reintegrate back into the school system. We are comfortable that as the process works itself through, that the young people in the facility will be prepared to participate in a regular school. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The education programs are delivered in the Northwest Territories by divisional education councils. They are funded to deliver that program. In this case, the appropriate divisional education council will be funded to deliver the program. The expectation is that appropriate programs are provided no matter what needs the kids have. That is why we have an inclusive schooling policy. It doesn't matter where a child is in the Northwest Territories, it is the responsibility of the divisional education council to make sure that they provide appropriate programming for...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the proposed move of the facility is still at least a year-and-a-half away. This still has to go through the business planning process, so at this point Education, Culture and Employment hasn't actually done anything to plan the move.

I can tell you that ECE funds Yellowknife Catholic schools for providing services to that facility as a magnet facility, just as we fund YK No. 1 for the services that they provide to Allison MacAteer House. If that facility were to move to another community, that funding, the magnet funding, would also move to provide...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Education Act, be read for the second time.

Madam Speaker, this bill amends the Education Act to provide that the Minister shall prescribe the hours of instruction for the academic year for kindergarten, subject to a minimum threshold of 485 hours. Thank you, Madam Speaker.