Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight some thoughts in terms of going into the section of the business plan and programs, maybe highlighting my language at a later point in terms of just some of the key issues affecting my riding. For the most part, the Department of Health and Social Services is the biggest department, at $415 million.

The big thing that I have been aware of, and monitoring, is just the whole transformation initiative in terms of coming to one single authority. What do we keep? As my colleagues have outlined, there are generally some positive...

My question relates to, of course, the optional head start program. So how will the introduction of junior kindergarten impact the funding granted to Aboriginal Head Start program's sites for the GNWT?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Earlier I spoke about the Aboriginal Head Start program and its establishment in the Northwest Territories since 1995. So my question is to the Minister. Can the Minister indicate when Regular Members can expect the government's response to Motion 26-18(2)? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi, colleagues. Like I said yesterday, Mr. Speaker, the confusion we have seen in the House doesn't address these worries.

Regular Members are still waiting on the government's response to Motion 2618(2), including a fully costed implementation plan. Meanwhile, parents are trying to plan for their children's education this fall, while schools are rapidly approaching their budget deadlines.

We can chart a course through this confusion, but we must all be upfront, and we must be all on the same page. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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...

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...

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...