Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, other colleagues had raised the matter of the homecare services. It's pretty clear that we're trying to build upon that, but I also wanted to highlight the need to have the on-the-land program initiative continue. I think the concept behind that was, as I pointed out, to bring people out on the land to use the strength of nature to give healing and wellness to people who choose that venue to better themselves, so that concept was developed.

There have been some design issues in terms of program delivery in that we had several initiatives carried out. So the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have three questions. The first question is in regards to community clinics and health centres. In my general comment I made the point of an established health cabin on the Hay River Reserve, and I think just recently there was an effort by a doctor to provide at least care on the reserve. I just wanted to have an understanding if my expectation may be consistent with the Minister's in terms of trying to bring more services from the town of Hay River through the Hay River Health Authority in terms of trying to bring services to residents of the Hay River Reserve...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to ask a question in terms of the reporting relationship in light of the changes to the one authority through the transformation initiative in terms of trying to streamline reporting. Could maybe the Minister highlight, just maybe outline in general, the relationship between his office and the district offices and the health centres at the community level in terms of raising some significant points in terms of decision-making and perhaps information sharing on patients, things of that nature? If he could maybe just highlight how that's going to work as the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my final question is, there continue to be some anxiety concerning the fate of the Aboriginal Head Start program in light of the roll into the junior kindergarten. Has the Minister engaged his federal colleague who is mandated to oversee the Aboriginal Head Start programs here in the NWT and also the funding in terms of committing the dollars to these eight sites in the NWT? Has the Minister engaged his federal colleague to see if, you know, the two programs could exist in parallel to each other? Mahsi.

I'd like to thank the Minister for his reply. How is the department working to address the questions and concerns of parents and educators who do not wish to change from the Aboriginal Head Start program to junior kindergarten?

This is my final question: how is the department ensuring that boards, education councils and education authorities are being kept up-to-date with all the recent changes so that these organizations can keep parents up-to-date?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what we've been seeing for some time is a major initiative from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment in terms of the roll-out of the junior kindergarten initiative. I'm seeking some clarity and trying to give an opportunity to the Minister to provide some answers that could be very resolute, and given the confidence that this is going to go forward despite the ongoing issues and concerns.

My first question is: can the Minister immediately follow up with the chief and council at the Hay River Reserve to make sure they are appropriately included...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided] As we know, some small communities already have [English translation not provided]. With current enrolment the people to teacher ratio is 13.3:1, but ECE intends to fund schools to a ratio of 12:1.

There are still several lingering issues, some of which have been brought up by my colleagues. I'll highlight three themes.

First, government-to-government relationships. When ECE moved to include JK students at Chief Sunrise School in the Hay River Reserve, the chief and council were not consulted. Later the Minister met with staff from the...

My second question is: what are the current pupil/teacher ratios at the Chief Sunrise and Deh Gah Schools?

Mahsi, colleagues. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. There residents value the strong relationship between the Aboriginal Head Start program and their community. They don’t understand why ECE wouldn't want to build on that success.

I will speak more on Aboriginal Head Start tomorrow, Mr. Speaker. For now, let me say that people I have spoken with remain concerned that JK might work in regional centres, but not in our small communities and schools.

Confusion like we've seen in the House this week doesn't soothe those worries. It only muddies the waters and raises more questions. Until tomorrow, Mr. Speaker...