Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what we’re dealing with here is barren land caribou. The question that we’re posing to the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories is: did the GNWT have the authority to issue the banning on the caribou. Mahsi.

This is an area that we can look at where the communities that we sponsor currently, the eight communities, how is the program being run or is it a successful program. Because we do a contribution agreement through those communities on an annual basis, so if we talk about an increase, then, of course, we have to find the funds to offset that cost, but we can look at that request. Mahsi.

This particular area consists of interdepartmental avenues with Health and Social Services and Housing and our Department of Education, Culture and Employment, through the income client service officers. So we continue to work together in that respect. There is a process in place where when inmates leave the facility, planning takes place to certain contacts in the communities. So we do what we can to provide those services from our departmental perspective.

Mr. Chairman, those are the types of discussions that we continuously are having within our department and also with the board chairs. Just a review of the K to 12 cost factor and the overall program review on how we distribute funds based on the enrolment. So, Mr. Chairman, we will continue to have our dialogue with the parties that we sponsor and if there needs to be changes, then those needs will be initiated. We will certainly get back to the standing committee if there is going to be some changes to the program, but currently, as it stands, we are following the enrolment funding formula...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the assessment the client service officers do provide to clientele is a variety. Not just on the financial aspects, but also on the individual’s needs. Whether it be providing them with more productive choices, if there’s such training opportunity for them, and so forth. It’s all based on the core needs of those individuals that are accessing assistance.

Mr. Chair, this inclusive schooling is general. It’s not student specific. It does cover a variety of areas, such as a speech pathologist or other special needs. Yes, this is part of the enrolment, the formula funding that we have initiated a few years back, and I did address this with my department on the decrease of that 0.5 percent, how it’s going to have an impact. So we currently are continuing to work with the school boards, the education councils, on specific to the inclusive schooling, because they’ll feel a minimal impact there, but how we can deal with the ongoing operations that we...

Give us a second, Mr. Chair.

That infant provision is part of the ongoing discussions that we’re having, whether it be the expansion of the area. But within the early childhood spaces, we do have infants in our spaces. Within the five regions, as I indicated, the 1,800 spaces available, they also have a child care area and nursery school, after-school program and family day home. So they do take in infants as well. So we’ll continue to work with that with those organizations that we sponsor.

Mr. Chairman, this is an area of focus, as well, with our department, investing more into the early childhood development area. Yes, this particular area will be ongoing funding. Next year we will be faced with that again. It is important to note that it is a worthwhile business, so we will continue to fund that. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, first of all, I would like to touch on the Early Childhood Small Community Initiative that’s been allocated, approximately $600,000. This is to increase a half-time position in the Sahtu and Deh Cho regions and also in Fort Smith and Inuvik from one position to 1.5. That’s an additional $250,000. An increase in the early childhood programs that we talked about in the small, remote communities. So we’ve identified funding for that as well. The funding in addition to the $600,000 for the Early Childhood Small Community Initiative is Early Childhood Program...