Wendy Bisaro

Mr. Chairman, maybe I could get a bit of an explanation from the Minister as to what this policy would encompass. I am not exactly following, I guess, why it couldn’t be done in conjunction. What would a self-government policy describe for us? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. A couple of questions here. During business plans and actually I think it was actually a year ago, but in discussion with the department at one point we talked about a document called the Key Features of Western NWT Society. I believe it was during a presentation. At that time, there were some comments from Members that that document needed to be updated. I just wondered if I could get an update on whether that’s been updated. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a question with regard to the section on corporate communications and protocol. I believe it was in the business plans that I read that the department was doing a review of the GNWT communications standards and practices. I’d like to ask the Minister, the DM, if indeed that review was done and what the results were, can we see that report, all those sorts of questions.

Mr. Chairman, I think maybe I should thank the Minister for his example because he pointed out that the need for a focal point for NGOs in the voluntary sector by saying that when there is a problem, then the Executive has to go to the department the NGO has the contract with and work with them. To Mr. Abernethy’s point, if there is the focus of the Department of Executive for NGOs and for voluntary sector, I think there might be a little bit better efficiency in our operations.

That is all I have at this point. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The Minister referenced a policy within the Department of Justice. My concern, I guess, is for employees outside of the GNWT. If someone in a private firm feels they are being harassed or bullied, what recourse do they have to try and make their workplace situation more tolerable?

Mr. Chairman, you are planning for a deficit of half a million dollars, so this is actually a good thing. I guess, then, maybe we should revise the description at the top of the page. Half a million deficit isn’t breakeven to me. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have an excellent education system here in the North but it’s not quite working as it should. One only has to look at the 2010 student assessment results released by the Department of Education in January to know that. For the 2009-2010 school year, the highest percentage of students working at or above grade level in English Language Arts was 81 percent. That was for grade 1. The numbers, unfortunately, go downhill as the grades go higher. Interestingly enough, the numbers for students functioning at or above grade level in Mathematics is higher than for English.

Edu...

Thanks very much for that update. Good to hear. I’m just wondering, in terms of distance education, my understanding is now that it’s well nigh impossible in some places, certainly the smaller communities, for the students to try to do distance, it takes literally up to hours to download the materials that they need for distance learning. With this new system, is that going to be improved? I suspect it probably won’t go away, but will it make it that much easier for particularly high school students to do distance education? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wanted to ask a couple of questions here. First of all, with regard to the new data centre that’s just been completed, could I get an update on where things are at in terms of occupation of the building? I believe the building itself is finished, but have we moved totally into there or is there still some moving to come? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a couple of questions here about demolitions. In this current budget year, the school in Tulita and the Deh Cho Hall in Fort Simpson were supposed to be demolished. I just wondered if there were any difficulties with those demolitions. Are they done and complete? Thank you.