Jackson Lafferty

At the beginning, also mid-term and at the end of our term we were told not to make any major or drastic changes...

Mahsi. One of the priorities is, of course, the schools, as part of my portfolio as Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. That is my priority. I have to look after all of the schools, make sure they’re well operated, and also that it meets the community’s needs as well. So those schools that have been identified for future consideration definitely will be in the work of the 17th Assembly. So those are the discussions that need to take place as well. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. This government does provide priority to those schools in the Northwest Territories as part of the capital planning process as we move forward. The super school that the Member is referring to took over 10 years from the planning stages until the final result. So sometimes it does take some time. But definitely in the Nahendeh riding we’re fully aware of the two schools that the Member is referring to, and we’ll continue to work with the school boards to identify those priorities. The work is already underway in the schools as well. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize those individuals that are in the gallery and organizations, the Minister’s Cultural Circle inductees are here with us today. First, in the youth category here with us: Evan Tordiff, along with his mother, Sylvie, and sister Lauren; Abel Tingmiak, elder category that’s here with us with his wife, Marcy Jane Tingmiak, that are here with us; Ben Nind of the individual category here with Natalie Labossiere; also here with us are the Aklavik Delta Drummers, the group category, Andrew Gordon, Eva Gordon, Alexander Gordon and Mary Ruth...

If we don’t have those resources, then definitely we need to go through our business planning cycle to identify the core needs of those inmates. If there are increasing inmates in the Northwest Territories, we have to identify those. Again, federal is also a key partner, so we will continue to push them. But within our own jurisdiction in the Northwest Territories, there is a plan in place. If the legislation comes into full force, what are the implications and we need to prepare for that. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, those are the areas that have been assessed through the 13 jurisdictions that we have to deal with. We talked about the resources and the manpower that’s required when the legislation comes into force. At the same time, again, the federal government needs to recognize our uniqueness, the high cost of living in the Northwest Territories, the Yukon and Nunavut as well, that this particular program that we’re continuing to push with the federal government, it’s one of the priorities of the Northwest Territories Justice department to identify those key areas. We will continue to do...

We will definitely follow through with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council. It could be small, but at the same time we have to respect all the regions. It’s not just one region that is faced with a challenge. At the same time, we’ll definitely follow through. Mahsi.

...with the current government system. At the same time, again, this is an area that we need to seriously look at with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council. We provide funding to them so they can deliver those key deliverances into the communities and regions as well.

Yes, the Member has raised that issue in the House. At the same time, the Member should also be raising that issue with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council because we are working hand in hand with them. I need to work with them to strengthen those ties because, again, we provide funding through them to the region. Mahsi.

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.