Jackson Lafferty

Yes, Madam Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “GNWT Response to Motion 5-17(2), Anti-Bullying Measures.” Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

I already committed to provide that information and just providing those tools to those individuals who are in the officer positions, whether it be an employment standards officer or other statutory officer, the training that’s been required and various training that is being offered to them. We can have a breakdown of that selective training that’s been offered and what they’re entitled to. We’ll definitely provide that detailed information. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I did already commit to that. We will be considering those recommendations brought forward to our attention by the students, parents and general public on SFA overall review. We are going to make those changes. We will definitely come back to the standing committee and highlight what we are going to pursue. This is an area that has been brought to our attention today. I will definitely look at that as well. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The specifics of it, I don’t have in front of me, but an area that has been raised in this House will definitely be taken into consideration. This is an area that hasn’t been highlighted as part of other jurisdictions, as well, through post-secondary program. Of course, it doesn’t qualify as SFA programming, but there are other sources of funding that individuals can access. That is the Labour Market Agreement through the federal government that we have within the GNWT, within the ECE department. We are willing to assist in that area.

I would encourage the individual to...

Yes, we definitely support those individuals in those kinds of capacity to have up-to-date experience and training requirements. We continue to provide that training, whether it be the statutory officers, or whether it be the employment standards officers, and provide them as up-to-date information as we possibly can through the training. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The principle function of the employment standards officer is to administer the Employment Standards Act. The act sets out general rights and responsibilities and minimal requirements, fundamental principles of employment standards. The act also covers such areas of work, minimum wage, termination of employment, annual vacation, statutory holidays, pregnancy and parental leave. Those fall under the act, so it’s up to the officer to follow through according to the act. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Madam Chair. With me to my left is Gloria Iatridis, acting deputy minister of Department of Education, Culture and Employment; and to my right is Tricia Ralph, legislative advisor. Mahsi.

I am pleased to introduce Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act. The purpose of this legislation is to raise the maximum aggregate of the principal amounts of all student loans that may be made by the Government of the Northwest Territories.

The maximum aggregate principal amount of student loans that the government may lend under the Student Financial Assistance Act is currently set at $36 million. The amendment proposes to increase this amount to $40 million for the fiscal year 2012-2013 and thereafter. This change is required to allow the Department of Education...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This particular motion, I will be tabling a document responding to the motion that was brought forward to this House. We are currently working on various logistical parts on the legislation itself, and working with other counterparts in the provinces and territories. This is a very big package that we are working towards, because it does deal with our Education Act as well. We will keep Members up to speed, as we move forward, but I will be tabling the document today. Mahsi.