Jackson Lafferty

Within our depatment with the funding allocation, it is based on the application. We don’t have a specific criteria to say there’s a small community that’s in high need, because we have to deal with all the communities of the Northwest Territories, but this is an area that we can discuss further in the Early Childhood Development Framework that’s currently under review. We’re at the first phase and in the second phase what changes need to be made. So I will be addressing this with my department as to where it can fit in. So we can discuss it further. Mahsi.

I don’t know how else I can answer that. As I stated, yes, we support our campuses in Yellowknife and we’ll continue to support that.

Mr. Chairman, this matter has been brought up by the Member earlier and we need to look at all aspects of how we recognize official language. We need to look at the linguistics of it. We need to look at the history of the language, where it came from and how many words are different from the Tlicho language.

Mr. Chairman, it can be complex, but this is a piece of work that is before us. I am working within my department with the language group. We need to gather more detailed information about the history and the linguistics of the language itself and the comparison with other closely related...

Mr. Speaker, this is an area that we are currently exploring. It has been brought to our attention about the credentials that individuals bring to their positions and to recognize those credentials along with the funding sources and resources. It has been brought to our attention, so we are seriously looking at it and then if we can come up with some options in that respect. Mahsi.

Mr. Chairman, the culture and heritage, there has been some increase, just over $300,000. First is forced growth. It is an information request, residential school claims and litigation. There is an incremental cost. There is also renewal of museum exhibits and collections and just to renew plans and collection renewal strategy to reshape the existing museum. There are some displays and exhibits that have been produced. The plan is to deliver those into the Northwest Territories and also on-line exhibits. Those are just some of the highlights of the expenditures. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. I agree with the Member that we should look at this. There are a lot of products out there that we need to showcase and I believe even Industry, Tourism and Investment travels to different sites highlighting the North. So we can work with that, even as far as updating our websites with all the links. We have information on these individuals, because obviously they submitted an application. Some of these individuals here, they are continuous individuals that apply on an annual basis. So, Mr. Chair, we will certainly work with that. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would be pleased to share some information with the Members on the Member for Sahtu for bringing this motion forward on the high school staffing funding formula. Small high schools in the Northwest Territories, as you know, are funded through the school funding framework. We are talking about approximately eight communities. Once communities have reached 10 students or more, then there are options that have been referred to as grade extensions. That’s an option that we have been working with and has been very successful.

The Member also stated that 2.26 teaching positions...

I did make a commitment. It may be soft but, as I indicated, my department will work closely with the DEA. I understand there’s been some correspondence on the playground equipment, the cost of it. The Member has alluded to $60,000 for the playground. That’s the number that we need to work with. How much the fundraising initiative of the parents group will be initiating still remains to be seen, but as I made the commitment, let’s work with this and work with the community of Fort Simpson to see what will come out of it.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. First let me commend the parent group for their tireless efforts in fundraising. This will definitely go a long way. As I stated when I was visiting Fort Simpson, I’m willing to work with the parents and willing to work with the DEA. There has been some correspondence between MLA Menicoche, myself and the DEA that we need to collaborate together. Working with the parent group, I must say that they are kick-starting this fundraising initiative and I’m willing to work with that.

Mr. Speaker, I will commit to working with the Member and also the DEA. At the same time, there is the Early Childhood Program for start-up and also contribution funding that is available to those individual organizations. We need to deal with the matter, the detailed information that the Member is referring to. If I can get that information, I am willing to work with that and also with the DEA through my department. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.