Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have been talking a great deal about education in the last few weeks and months. This is Education Week and I would like to recognize and salute all the NWT educators among us who make a difference in people’s lives.

We – and I include myself, because teachers never stop being educators – are everywhere in our lives. Yes, educators are in our schools, teaching kindergarten to Grade 12, but they are also in our gyms, our fitness centres and our yoga institutes, at the NWT Literacy Council and their workers are community workers who are in every one of our communities...

Thanks to the deputy minister. I’m done. Thank you.

The increase is about $600,000, $550,000. In listening to the Minister, I didn’t quite get all the numbers, but I gather the largest amount is about $400,000 for the Aboriginal Languages Secretariat. Is that an increase to that secretariat or is that to set up that secretariat? Thank you.

I just have one other question in the section. It’s my understanding that, I think the Minister is well aware… I’ll back up. I think the Minister is well aware that I have an interest in student housing at the college and the lack of it. My understanding is that the college is doing a housing review at this point. Could the Minister confirm that and advise me where the review is at? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a question here with regards to the Minimum Wage Adjustment Committee. My understanding is that we should be getting a report fairly soon. Could I hear from the Minister? I gather this committee has met. When can we expect to see their recommendations? Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. So I guess now that I know there is $600,000 that the college is using for early childhood, and I don’t disagree with that, but we’ve got a reserve for the college but is it not okay for a school board to have a reserve and I’m having difficulty with equating those two philosophies.

I wanted to ask the question of the department. I think it was over a year ago now, the federal government made an announcement and there was a large amount of money that was given from the federal government to the college for, I believe, adult education. I would like to know if I could get a bit...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am in support of this motion. I think my comments yesterday indicated that I believe very strongly that we need to put more effort, more consideration, more design into our early childhood development budget. The department is set on implementing junior kindergarten, and that’s fine. It’s a good program. I don’t have a problem with that. What I do have a problem with is that we are not putting the same focus on our zero to three children, and we need to put more money into that area. Other Members have spoken to the benefit that we get from focusing on zero to three, so...

So is there money in the supplementary reserve at this time? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think my time is up.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a couple of questions here. I’ll start with the numbers on page 39. There’s been about an $800,000 increase in the budget for Aurora College from this current budget year to…sorry, the academic year to the next academic year. Can I understand what this increased funding is for? Thank you.