Jackson Lafferty

Those types of discussions I believe are happening in the Sahtu region. Part of the committee, the Sahtu Regional Training Committee that deals with the five-year plan, I’m sure those types of discussions have occurred. I will find out from my departmental representatives if there has been discussion in that capacity with respect to the Member’s request of a tech in the Sahtu region. Those types of discussions and also a lot of the training needs of the regions are part of the five-year training plan that’s been produced by the region. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, February 20th to 24th marks Education Week. We are celebrating the academic achievements of students across the Northwest Territories and recognizing educators who support and strengthen our education system.

This year we are recognizing Dr. Curtis Brown and Mr. Allan Karasiuk from the South Slave region. Last fall Dr. Brown received the Canadian Association of School Administrators Award for the best school superintendent in Canada. As well, Mr. Karasiuk received one of forty 2012 awards for Canada’s Outstanding Principal from The Learning

Centre. They are tremendous educators and...

As I stated, there has been some research in other parts of the jurisdictions and my department has been discussing that with various counterparts, various parties involved. I can assure the Member that there is work in process. Not only that, I can assure the Member that I will get to the Member before the 12-month period. But this is a particular area that has been of interest to us, as well, since the Member has been asking. I will definitely get back to all the Members on the timing of the next steps. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. There have been a couple of increases to minimum wage as requested by the Members of the Legislative Assembly. There has been some work done. I don’t have that specific detailed information, but I can provide that to the Members once I get my hands on it.

We have explored those areas regarding some of the seniors having individuals living with them. It could be providing more home care to them. Another area that we also explored is the seniors and individuals living under their roof, could they be invoiced as opposed to the senior. We have been exploring those areas. We have a representative at the regional level, as well, and we continuously have those discussions at the community level and at the regional level, and we will continue to do that if we need to make those changes. We need to consult with the communities as well. Mahsi.

I would say yes. We need to work with all communities to deal with the housing for staff, especially the teachers. That’s under my portfolio. Education is one of the goals and objectives of this Assembly, and I’ll definitely work closely with the NWT Housing Corporation to identify the needs of the communities when it comes to housing for staff. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This particular program is under review within the NWT Housing Corporation and that information will be shared with the Members once it’s available. But it is under the Housing Corporation, the $25,000 earmarked for those particular programs. Mahsi.

I like those direct questions. I’ll try to give him a direct answer. The direct answer is that we’ve gotten out of long-term lease agreements on the housing for staff. Now we’re talking about the Shelter Policy that’s before us. It’s under review and there will be discussion that will take place with respect to housing for staff, housing for community members, and there will be more discussion with the standing committee. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Recently MLA Blake and I visited Fairbanks, Alaska, to learn about the Alaska Native Language Program. The trip had both an education and a language focus and I think we can learn a lot from their retention and revitalization strategies, and language acquisition and teaching methods. I believe these significantly complement our approaches in the Northwest Territories.

We met with faculty staff at the Alaska Native Language Centre and the College of Rural and Community Development at the University of Fairbanks, Alaska. The university incorporates indigenous knowledge and...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. With all of the capital infrastructure, the process of going through the budget planning process to deal with capital, and we do have an area of technical or evaluation of the schools. So we do, upon requests, evaluation of the schools. For particular schools, whether it be Trout Lake or Liard and other areas of infrastructure that’s badly needed in the community or in need of repair, then we do an analysis in those areas and we’ve done those in the Member’s riding as well. So when it comes to the capital planning process, these items will be discussed for sure. Mahsi.