Wendy Bisaro

I am in full support of this motion. When I was a city councillor a number of years ago, the city council of the City of Yellowknife approved a motion urging the Government of Canada to approve the UN declaration.

It is beyond my understanding why the Government of Canada has not approved this declaration. I believe they should. There are many principles in the declaration which are already a reality in the ways the Government of Canada treats indigenous people, so I don’t understand why they feel that they can’t sign on to this declaration.

There is an objection on the part of the Government of...

Mr. Speaker, I have two written questions I'd like to ask today. The first one is to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

Will the Minister advise the enrolments for all Yellowknife schools for the past five years (2003-2004 to 2007-2008)?

Mr. Speaker, I would like to know whether or not the department has any particular actions or programs that are in place to oversee what the district education councils or the school boards are doing, relative to zero-tolerance policies.

That’s not exactly the answer I was looking for, but I understand the situation. I would urge the department to work with their district education authorities to do more to bring housing in line with the conditions that most of us expect.

I’d like to ask whether or not the department has a zero-tolerance policy that addresses violence towards teachers in school.

I’d like to follow up on my Member’s statement and ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment a couple of questions relative to some of the problems that teachers experience on a daily basis. I would like to ask the Minister what the department does currently to provide housing for teachers in smaller communities.

I hear the Hon. Member from across the floor, but I have to again state there is no indication in the materials and explanations that we have had, apart from his words just now, that indicates that this is an urgent item. I gather that the system is already there, and I understand that it needs to be upgraded but, again, my understanding was that this interim appropriation was basically for items which were under contract, which were a safety measure or which were urgently required. I don’t know why this item can’t wait ‘til May or June.

I have a question in regard to the jet boat expense scheduled for Norman Wells. I wonder what the urgency is for this addition. I don’t believe it was in the ’07 – ‘08 main estimates. There is a jet boat for Behchoko that I gather was in the main estimates last year, but the one for Norman Wells was not. If I can get an explanation as to the urgency of this particular expenditure or if it’s a safety issue. I don’t see prior expenditures, so it doesn’t seem to be a contract issue.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 15, notices of motion.

Unanimous consent granted.

Motion 7-16(2)

Extended adjournment of

To the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Will the Minister advise the per annum cost to the Government of the N.W.T. for our participation in the Arctic Winter Games for the current Games and past four Games (Games held in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008)? All costs should be considered, to include but not limited to:

G.N.W.T. funding contributions to Host Societies

Costs of Arctic Winter Games Regional Trials

Costs of Arctic Winter Games Territorial Trials

Cost of clothing for Arctic Winter Games participants

Cost for two N.W.T. representatives (Members) on the Arctic Winter Games...

Mr. Speaker, one last question. I guess I would take from that answer that there is nothing in place, from a department perspective, that ensures that teachers are in a safe environment in their school and their classroom.