Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. With respect to preschool in the Northwest Territories, there has been some work in different areas such as the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative. We visit all forums and all regions in the Northwest Territories. We’ve heard from people the importance of having these early childhood development programs. Not only that but there’s also a framework that has been in the works since last year, the Early Childhood Development Framework for Action. The report is currently being drafted. With that in mind, there is all this different research that has been initiated and...

Mr. Chair, I’ll get Karan to elaborate more on this particular area, but I just want to stress that there is a national strategy that the parties are involved from provincial and territorial jurisdictions. Once we file, let’s say the bill comes into effect and we file a lawsuit, we’ll be part of that national strategy. So we can seek out the information and input and others on what they’ve been through, but if Karan wants to elaborate a bit more on Ms. Groenewegen’s question.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is committed to enhancing accessibility to post-secondary education for all Northerners. Through a Student Financial Assistance review and the development of northern university options, we continue to strive for a strong, prosperous, educated society.

The primary objective of the Student Financial Assistance program independent review is to determine whether the program benefits adequately support students with rising living costs, how the program contributes to the government’s objective to develop a healthy educated...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. No, we don’t.

Yes, I would, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Those are streamlined in front of the rental officer.

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. To my left is Karan Shaner, assistant deputy minister of Justice. To my right is Mark Aitken, part of the legislative counsel.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Simply, we are not forgetting the students out there. We are covering the northern students, the isolated students, and also the students of the Northwest Territories. We provide funding to the school boards so they can sponsor those students in their schools, in their regions, as well as supporting them going through a transition of another community. So those are the support mechanisms that we provide through the school boards, Mr. Speaker.

At the same time, my department is working closely with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council to make it effective and efficient when...

I don’t have the actual breakdown, but I do have the paperwork with the PWS that we work closely together with the school board to identify the needs of the community, the schools, and also the needs of the school board. So we can provide that information to the Member or Members for their information as well. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Trout Lake School, there’s been some work on the school itself and part of just some minor capital upgrades scheduled for the school that was slated for 2010-2011 as part of the capital plan. We talk about the new capital plans that are coming up in the 16th Assembly and on to the 17th Assembly. So those are the discussions that need to take place with the school board, and I need to work closely with the school board and also the Members as well. Mahsi.