Jackson Lafferty

Those logistics are still being worked on as we speak. It’s in the planning stages, but certainly those preferences and priorities will be given to the students that are returning to school. We want every student to succeed in our school system and succeed in life as well. At this point all I can say is it’s in the planning stages and, certainly, those considerations will be taken into effect.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment would like to announce that starting on April 1, 2010, minimum wage in the Northwest Territories is going up.

This is the first increase to the minimum wage in the Northwest Territories since 2003. Despite the high cost of living, the Northwest Territories’ minimum wage rate fell behind the national average and has not kept up with increases in other costs like rent, groceries and fuel.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is phasing in the changes over the next two years. In 2010 the rate...

As I’ve indicated, we’ve already allocated funds for the operation this school year. I can’t, as a Minister, stand up and say, hire a teacher in the community. I have to respect their decision. We have empowered the board of education to make those types of important decisions, because they are the experts at the community level. They’re currently, I believe, dealing with this matter. I believe MLA Jacobson has already met with the board or will be meeting with the board. So this discussion is ongoing and we will continue to monitor that. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the issue was brought to our attention in December and the discussion is ongoing. We can’t really do anything until it’s thawed. Definitely, we’ll keep the Member informed of our progress to date. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, part of the planning process will be to work closely with PWS. It is the responsibly of that department to look at the infrastructure itself, if it needs to be taken out of the ground when it’s thawed out. Those are discussions that we need to continue having along with the Dehcho Education Council, with the superintendent, and keeping the board members informed of the progress being made and also the Member in that respective riding. So we’ll continue to make that progress as we go along. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment assumed responsibility for administration of the Public Housing Rental Subsidy on April 1, 2006. Leading into the transfer, some specific goals were put in place for improvements to the program in the overall context of the income security framework.

A lot of hard work has been undertaken and we have met with some success. We are pleased to report that Education, Culture and Employment has strengthened the Public Housing Rental Subsidy Program over the past four years and have developed new tools including a policy and procedures...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, February 3, 2010, I will move that Bill 10, Exemption Act, be read for the first time.

Again, that type of discussion needs to happen at the district education council with our department, identifying funding or resources within our department and also within the board department. We’ve already allocated funds for this school year operation, and those eight students or other students that Mr. Krutko is alluding to, we need to look at their status. The funding that’s been allocated to Inuvik, certainly they will lose that if the students are back in Tsiigehtchic. We need to adjust in those areas as well. The board needs to make those decisions as well. I have to respect those...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We are looking at various options on how we can enhance our services in small, isolated communities such as Tsiigehtchic or Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok and other communities. Part of the ongoing discussion we’re having with the education council is identifying those resources. There is also the enrolment issue. We’re dealing with an enrolment that is going down, and that doesn’t help in small communities. So, certainly, those are the strategic thinking that we are having with our departments and with the community organizations. We need to find a solution. One solution is...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gets very complicated where we’ve allocated funds based on where the students are enrolled. So we do provide the funding. We do provide the service to those eight students the Member is referring to. It’s just a matter of choice that the students are back in the community. Again, the decision lies with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council to make that decision, and the district education authority. If they are exploring options of extending high schools, those are discussions that need to take place as well. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.