Caitlin Cleveland

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, the new agreement was signed in February of 2025, right up against kind of at the 11th hour of the election for the federal government, and it was essentially a take-it-or-leave-it proposal without the ability to negotiate. We were able to ensure that we ended up as a territory with, I guess receipts if you will, so a letter in writing from the previous Minister about how our situation in the territories is different than other provincial jurisdictions across Canada and that the agreement does not meet our needs in the Northwest Territories. And...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the Healthy Food for Learning has consistently been $650,000 a year. And if the Member looks down a little bit, there's also the national school food program, which is in 2025-2026 was to the tune of $4.25 million. And then in 2026-2027 is $2.553 million. That is through the federal government's school food program. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, laddering programs are programs where someone can start off in one and it opens the door and provides kind of that step up into another potential level of certification so that somebody who may start off, for example, in a certificate program has a clear path forward into a diploma degree and so forth. And so it allows people to start off with smaller steps and bite-sized pieces, if you will, and to see if it's something that they enjoy doing before they want to go on to that next step.

Another example of laddering, for example, is the diploma in...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, one of the things that we communicate to education bodies when they're doing some of these drills is to ensure that notice is given at home that this might be happening, especially in light of recent events in British Columbia, ensuring that families are aware that these drills are happening, why they happen, why they're important. I did have a conversation over the weekend with the education Minister from British Columbia, and she did stress that making sure that we all are practicing our safe protocols and we all know what is the process that we're...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, based on the enrolment numbers that we have today, because as you know, this program fluctuates with the number of children that are involved in it, but as it sits today we would be looking at a shortfall of approximately $10 million a year.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, there is additional funding for other post-secondary institutions that is found within this budget. It's just not found within this line item because it comes from different funding agreements that I believe is found under the labour section. But I would need to confirm that. But I can confirm for the Member that there is, within this budget, additional dollars as well for other post-secondary contributions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, while there are assessments that take a deeper look at how a student learns, there are lots of instances where an assessment of this nature isn't necessarily needed. Schools are really encouraged to act early and not wait, and teachers are encouraged to provide additional classroom and small group support as soon as a concern emerges with a student. And students don't need a diagnosis in order for teachers to make that available to students in their schools or in their classrooms, and a formal diagnosis is not required for accommodations or intervention...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. So I will start, and then I will pass to the deputy minister.

So to start off, we've got some other engagement that is underway in the 2026 year, which is the engagement that is as a result of the redefining what adult education will look like in communities across the Northwest Territories. And so as part of that work is a great opportunity to really outline what is next steps and what is our action plan coming out of that. As far as looking back on Skills 4 Success, I'd like to pass to the deputy minister, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, I absolutely hear the Member, and I spend a lot of time talking to Tlicho Investment Corporation specifically about workforce development opportunities. And one of the things that they're looking very closely at is actually using their workforce to do on-the-job training so that people are not expected to quit their jobs, go to school, but how can they incorporate a lot of these trainings and certifications right into the employment that they're doing today. So they still -- they maintain their job but as they're doing their job, they either get time to...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, this is a federal program, and the agreement and parameters of that agreement are defined by the federal government. Thank you.