Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise Members of ongoing work in the administration of the Public Housing Rental Subsidy Program, PHRS.

As Members are aware, the 15th Legislative Assembly placed an emphasis on helping northerners to move forward on self-reliance. The income security policy framework was developed in 2005 to help us move in this direction and to provide a coordinated approach to the delivery of programs and services. As part of the larger income security reform project, in April 2006, administrative responsibilities for the Public Housing Rental Subsidy Program were transferred...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with these kind of incidents, there are various parties involved. The coroner area, their office. Also the Department of Health and Social Services and our Department of Justice. Certainly I will be working closely with my colleague and also the coroner and see what they have on file. Again, I committed to, and I am willing to share that information with Mr. Krutko. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we’ve outlined in the strategic plan for the 16th Assembly, this can certainly be one of the priorities; it will be up to the Members here to set priorities. But I’m more than willing to sit down with the Member and other Members who are requesting meetings with Ministers on various issues and concerns. This could be one of them that we’ll certainly meet on. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated, there is discussion. They are taking place within my department and working with the day care facilities on identifying the needs of the day care facilities. This will be an ongoing discussion as we speak now. I am hoping that we can see a review document by early in the new year somewhat integrated through the strategy planning that we are strategizing for the 16th Assembly. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the funding is, most of the day cares in the Northwest Territories are based on the enrolment of the students. I’m sorry, the children and based on attendance. But there has been some, I would say, increase in the contribution in 2007 in the childcare facilities. So those are the things that we are looking at, that our department is planning on, depending on the priorities and planning that’s coming out as a strategy. So if that fits into that, then we will certainly work with that. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, once the report is due, then we’ll certainly make that effort to meet with the Member and also the family. We’ll have our department conduct that. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to recognize a true constituent from Behchoko, Eric Gargan and also my brother David Lafferty. Mahsi.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, this is one area that we will certainly look into with our department. We will certainly be getting back to the colleague that is asking the question. These are technical areas that we will certainly look into, as well. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the report again does highlight the deficiencies and also the work that needs to be done in Hay River, on the Diamond Jenness School. Also with moving forward we need to identify this as part of capital project planning. That will certainly be our discussion here with our government as we move forward and with the setting of priorities and planning which area should have the most priority for the Northwest Territories, because we do have quite a few capital projects that are in line. This will certainly be one of the issues that we will be tackling in the...

Mr. Speaker, preliminary data shows there were 365 secondary school graduates in the NWT in 2006-2007, which is one less than the total number for 2005-2006 when we had the highest number of graduates.

---Applause

Of these graduates, 164 are aboriginal…

---Applause

…98 are from small communities, 83 are from regional centres and 184 are from Yellowknife. Final graduation numbers will be available at the end of December 2007 and I look forward to sharing those with you.

Graduation from high school is a key step in a successful career and life plan. Northwest Territories graduates participate in the...