Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Return to Written Question 20-16(2), I wish to table the following document, entitled Active Apprentices by Region and Community.

Document 72-16(2), Active Apprentices by Region and Community, tabled.

Mr. Speaker, we are wrapping up our process of recruiting teachers and principals for the North. We’re focussing on their arrival, whether it be August or September, possibly mostly in August, when they arrive before school starts. That’s a short-term solution we are identifying. The long-term solution will be in the next few years. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, this is one of the key areas we are focusing on as the Department of Education, Culture and Employment: to find suitable and affordable housing units for staff, especially for teachers coming to the North. We certainly want to welcome them with open arms. One way of doing that is working with the various organizations in the community, most specifically the LHOs, the NWT Housing Corporation at the community level and the Department of Human Resources.

We are developing a strategy. I myself, the chairs of the five regional boards, including Yellowknife, and the...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Maintenance Orders Enforcement Act, be read for the third time.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I seek consent to proceed with third reading of Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Residential Tenancies Act.

Yes, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Assembly has expressed interest in protecting the rights of children whose parents are separating or divorcing. However, the Cabinet will be abstaining from the motion that has been brought forward, and I would like to explain why. I will also provide concepts for Members who are not certain whether they should support this or not.

As you know, we do have acts and laws in place within our jurisdiction of the Northwest Territories. First of all, the NWT Family Law supports the principle that decisions should be made in the best interests of the children. The...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This option was just given to us recently, so we need to sit down as a department and go over the options. Certainly, it will be presented once we move forward. There’s still ongoing discussion within my department. It hasn’t moved forward because this will be a long-term solution. Once we’ve made a decision, we’ll certainly come back to the committee, possibly the Social Programs Committee, that deals with our ECE department. At that point in time we’ll certainly be sharing that information with the committee. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, we did meet with the Deh Cho superintendent, who is coordinating for the superintendents, and also with the chairs of the respective regions’ education boards. We met a couple of weeks ago. They proposed three or four options for us to consider, but we wanted to deal with the immediate issue at hand: the new recruits and the returning teachers coming to the North, especially in the isolated communities that may not have housing units.

We’re going to work closely with the Housing Corporation to identify vacant units that can be made available to the teaching staff. That is one area...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, this summer one of our territory’s most important institutions will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. On August 1, 2 and 3 École Sir John Franklin High School will be hosting a homecoming weekend to recognize the school’s 50 years of education.

Since 1958 Sir John has seen thousands of students pass through its doors. Many leaders of the modern North attended Sir John. At least five current Members of the Legislature attended Sir John Franklin Territorial high school, including myself, and at least one of us even taught...