Jackson Lafferty

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to present the 2010-2011 Main Estimates for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

The government’s vision of northern people leading fulfilled lives and contributing to a strong and prosperous society is the driving force for where we are going as a department. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment strategic plan, Building on our Success, along with the government’s strategic plan and initiatives provide the direction for our 2010-2011 Main Estimates.

The proposed 2010-2011 Main Estimates for Education, Culture and Employment total $306.388...

[English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to touch on some key points that have been addressed here today by the Legislative Assembly Members. One of the highlights is, of course, the decline of the caribou herd. We are facing a crisis here, also preserving our traditional harvesting, saving our caribou herd for the Northwest Territories.

We hear there is more than one herd, Also, thinking about the future, we talk about our younger generation, our great-great-grandchildren, the importance of working together, the GNWT, other governments, other First Nations. We all...

Mr. Speaker, yes, I would follow through with that with organizations. At the same time, we do have representatives here as well. The Aboriginal Sport Circle and also the sports organizations are clearly listening to us as we speak. So, with that mindset, we will certainly collaborate together and move forward. But this is a great opportunity for our representatives to be at the national stages, so we will support them, as well, through our educational system. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Member referred to our statements in the House. They are important statements. Having an organization, whether they be NGOs or territorial government organizations, promoting more sporting programs, whether it be Arctic Winter Games trials or Canada Games trials, Winter Games trials, we fully support students participating in those events, Mr. Speaker. At the same time, we are not ignoring the fact that they are missing school or being absent from school on a number of occasions but they go with their homework. They go with their guidelines of what needs to be done...

Mr. Speaker, I totally agree that we must meet all the students’ educational standards across the Northwest Territories. In fact, our main targets should be far-reaching to try and be ahead of the other jurisdictions such as the southern jurisdictions. We are developing the plans and implementing those areas and we will continue to improve in those areas.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the report that the Member is referring to we received just recently. My department is going through the overall review. The recommendations were brought to our attention and, clearly, we need to work with the community; we need to work with the Member on a going-forward basis. This could be part of the business planning cycle for next time around. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, we did receive a letter from the Member’s constituent school asking about the education planning regarding their school and, certainly, we are committed to working on that. There is...

This is under the direction of the youth, the feedback of the youth. It’s under the education plan, part of the educational plan of going forward and promoting students to stay in school, the healthiness of our students. Promoting more of that into the communities, Members have alluded to where maybe other work with other departments, whether it be the recreational program or other promotional programs. We are currently doing that as the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. We are working with Municipal and Community Affairs and other health departments, as well, to promote even...

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to provide an update on our new approach to recruit and training corrections officers and youth officers to work in our facilities.

In the past, we have had challenges with recruiting Northerners for these specialized jobs. Not just anyone can work as a corrections officer or in a correctional centre. These jobs take many skills and the right attitude. The skills required are not easy to come by in the North, and we need to make sure that people have the skills and training they need to qualify for these jobs. Situations can escalate within seconds and staff need to be...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 10, Exemption Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill repeals and replaces the existing Exemption Act. The categories of property that are exempt from seizure under the right of execution are described in contemporary language and are expanded to include types of property essential for subsistence of the debtor and his or her dependents. Transitional matters are provided for and Public Service Garnishee Act is consequentially amended. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, one of our key priorities is, of course, public relations that we have in place. We do have a continuous training program that is highlighted for client service officers dealing with the public. Mr. Speaker, this area is of importance to income security. We do have in-house training. We do send client service officers outside to get trained as well. So there is continuous training that is happening. We can’t say that there is no training happening. I have to correct the Member that there is constant training that is taking place. We will continue to do so to improve our public...