Frederick Blake Jr.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, moved into Committee of the Whole today.

---Unanimous consent granted

WHEREAS Section 40.2(1) of the Public Service Act provides that the Commissioner, on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly, shall appoint an Equal Pay Commissioner to exercise the powers and perform the duties set out in this act;

AND WHEREAS the appointment of the current Equal Pay Commissioner, Ms. Nitya Iyer, expires on June 30, 2012;

AND WHEREAS Ms. Nitya Iyer has expressed an interest in reappointment for a third term as Equal Pay Commissioner;

AND WHEREAS the Board of Management has considered Ms. Iyer’s expression of interest and is prepared to recommend her reappointment for a...

If the numbers show that students from small communities are not succeeding in Inuvik, will the Minister take the steps necessary to provide a boarding home by this fall? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The high school years are difficult for many students. It can even be tough for sensible and smart young people who get strong support from their parents. The reality is that teenagers face some big challenges and a lot of pressure. I’m sure we all remember if we think about it. I fear those challenges were forgotten when the system was designed to support students who have to leave home to complete high school.

This is still happening in our small communities such as Tsiigehtchic and Sachs Harbour. Those students go to high school in Inuvik and have to live with other...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I noticed there’s nothing under the amortization. I noticed for every other department that’s taken into account, but I haven’t seen that for this one. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just like to commend the Executive on what was mentioned; the single-window service centres that are in some of the communities there. I know there’s been great success in Aklavik and I’m glad to see that extending to another five communities, including Tsiigehtchic. I think that’s a very good initiative by the department and I look forward to the outcome of that.

The next item I’d like to ask about is home care. At the moment we have one part-time person in Tsiigehtchic and I believe only one person in Fort McPherson. That’s not adequate for the needs of the communities. I’d like to ask the Minister if there are plans to make a full-time position in Tsiigehtchic and add one or two more people in Fort McPherson. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a follow-up on my Member’s statement. I’d like to ask the Minister of Education a couple of questions. What is the Minister doing to address the need for a boarding home in Inuvik for students from small communities in the Beaufort-Delta?

Nothing further.