Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On Education, Culture and Employment, the Standing Committee on Finance continues to believe that education should be the most important priority of the government. When northerners are better educated, they will not only be better able to govern and administer their own affairs, they will be better able to care for themselves. While spending in this department, as a percentage of the total budget, has increased somewhat in recent years, committee Members are still concerned that spending on education does not reflect its deserved number one status.
Providing Social Services To Students In The School
The most prominent educational issue discussed by committee Members involved the provision of social services to children in schools. The transfer of the early childhood education -- day care -- program to this department is one example. Not only does it allow young mothers to continue to attend school knowing that there is care available for their children, it also gives students opportunities to learn about early childhood education, either as foundation for a possible career or to learn parenting skills for their own future families. This is an example where using school facilities to provide a social service can have significant future benefits.
Committee Members also discussed providing other services in schools by making space in schools for social workers, health workers and/or police available, to assist students with their social needs. While the department has made some efforts in this area, they have not met the committee's recommendation, made in the review of the 1994-95 main estimates, to establish pilot projects along the lines of the partners for youth projects under way in Edmonton and other cities. In response, the committee recommends in its report, Investing in Our Future, that the government plan and implement a school-based youth services program during the final year of the government's term.
Growing expenses and social costs related to crime, alcohol and drug abuse and family violence are becoming more and more difficult for northerners to bear. Committee Members feel quite strongly that early intervention is the key to long-term success in this area. That is, children must be given the opportunity to resolve problems and handle these issues as early as possible. This is why the integration of social services and educational facilities is seen as such an important area. The committee strongly urges the department to make stronger efforts to provide this early intervention, in order to improve the lives of northerners in the long-term.
New Capital Standards
Committee Members appreciate the presentation of the department's new capital standards and criteria. It is still quite expensive to build schools in the north, so it is important to always look for opportunities to make the best use of funds available. Both the new standards and improved cooperation with the Department of Public Works and Services, can help meet that objective.
Cooperation With Land Claims Organizations
In his opening remarks, the Minister also mentioned that his department would be working with land claims organizations. Where programs relating to education are part of the land claims agreement for a particular organization, the department will be working with them in order to make the best use of all resources available in that area. Committee Members look forward to seeing the results of these cooperative efforts.
Housing For Arctic College Students
Adequate housing for students attending Arctic College campuses in the NWT is still an important issue. The committee understands that the department is completing a study that would incorporate a long-term plan for college residences. Committee Members look forward to seeing the results of this study, and to seeing this plan implemented in future years. Also, the committee is looking forward to seeing the long-awaited corporate plans for the eastern and western colleges.
Canada-NWT Infrastructure Program Agreement
When the federal government and the GNWT negotiated funding under the Canada-NWT Infrastructure Program, Members appreciated being presented with the relevant information by the chairman of the FMB on such a prompt basis. The funds provided under this program will help advance or expand projects that will make a difference to northerners, both through the jobs they create and from the resulting capital projects. Committee Members understand that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment will be the lead department in implementing this agreement, and encourage the department to make the best use possible of this opportunity.
Video Production
In the reviews of the 1994-95 capital estimates and main estimates, the committee raised concerns regarding the purchase of video production equipment in the departments of Education, Culture and Employment and Renewable Resources. In February 1994, those departments provided the committee with a briefing on in-house video production in the government. The essence of this briefing was that most of the government's video production spending goes to the private sector, and that most of the in-house spending is for production of the TVNC youth series The Tube.
Following that briefing, the committee asked the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to provide more detailed information on the cost of producing The Tube. The committee also suggested, "that the Department contract the production of two episodes of 'The Tube' to the private sector as a test case." (Hansard, 12th Assembly, 5th Session, March 15, 1994, page 603. Statement by Mr. Antoine.)
Until the information requested has been received, and until the results of the pilot project are known, committee Members do not feel it is appropriate to recommend approval of further in-house capital expenditures. Once the pilot project has been evaluated, a decision can then be made on replacement of equipment and the future of GNWT video production.