This is page numbers 339 - 366 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was education.

Topics

Committee Motion 9-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 20, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Department Of Education, Culture And Employment

Committee Motion 9-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 20, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 350

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Mr. Nerysoo, do you have opening remarks for the committee?

Introductory Remarks

Committee Motion 9-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 20, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chairman and committee Members, I would like to introduce the 1994-95 O and M estimates for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

Governments across Canada are currently undergoing many organizational and program changes to meet the challenges of today's economy. My department, through consolidation, has found a number of ways to improve efficiency and service to the public. The department continues to work to provide increased leadership in the areas of education, culture and employment.

One of the department's major initiatives in this area is the development of a strategic plan, which will guide our programs and services for the next ten to 15 years. During the fall session of the Legislative Assembly, I tabled a copy of the discussion paper which resulted from the first round of public consultation. As requested, I will make a presentation on the strategic plan in the committee of the whole, which will be followed by a debate on directions for education.

The development of a new Education Act which reflects the current need of students, parents and other partners in education, is an important initiative in providing leadership. The department conducted an initial round of consultation on the act in 1990 and more than 50 submissions were received. Four main directions emerged from these responses. They are:

-that the needs and strengths of our students must be our priority;

-that a strong foundation for education can only be built together with families and communities;

-that the direction to empower people to be responsible for and to direct the delivery of education in schools and communities must continue; and,

-that education programs must be based on the languages and cultures of the north.

The department has developed a second public consultation document based on these directions, which is currently in the printing process and will soon be distributed. After further consultation, a new act will be prepared for tabling and discussion in the Legislative Assembly this fall and introduced for debate in the spring of 1995.

Improving the education system so that it is more relevant for students, communities, employers and other partners in education is a key area in which the department is showing leadership. I believe aboriginal educators have had a significant impact on the number of students choosing to stay in school and return to school across the Northwest Territories. They provide a direct link to culture and language and are important role models for students, showing them what they can accomplish and what kinds of job opportunities are available to them if they stay in school.

In order to increase the number of aboriginal educators in the NWT, the department has set a goal of 50 per cent aboriginal educators in the Northwest Territories by the year 2000, has developed a plan to get there and is aggressively pursuing it. In order to make progress towards our goal, we must take bold steps. These steps are showing results. For instance, in the Baffin Divisional Board, 49 per cent of all staff are aboriginal.

The department has developed a community-based teacher education program which has run in the Dogrib, South Slave and Keewatin regions. Similar programs are now being operated in the Baffin, Kitikmeot, and Beaufort-Delta regions. Subject to approval of this budget, I have approved a teacher education program for Yellowknife, the NWT community with the largest aboriginal population. It will start April 1, 1994. These programs have provided improved access to teacher education for many people whose family and community commitments mean they can not attend campus-based programs.

The success of the teacher education programs has led to this model being used to provide access to nursing. We are currently completing a legislative proposal to provide for the registration of nurses in the NWT Nursing Professions Act. The access year for the registered nursing diploma program is already under way, and the first year of nursing training will begin in the fall of 1994. A total of 42 students were accepted for enrolment; 20 of these people come from communities outside of Yellowknife and 33 are aboriginal.

One of the key approaches to improving the education system and seeing more NWT students graduate from grade 12 is the extension of senior secondary grades in the communities. These extensions are being guided by the senior secondary schooling policy, which was approved by Cabinet last July. The policy is now being implemented by all boards and divisional boards of education, which have developed plans to introduce higher grades into their regions. The department has gathered information on the capital requirements for grade extensions from all of the divisional boards of education and is working to fully integrate these requirements into the capital plan for 1995 and onward.

There are a number of grade extensions planned. Last June, when the operational plan was being developed, the extensions identified were:

-Grade ten for communities of Fort Liard, Taloyoak, Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Fort Franklin and Norman Wells.

-Grade 11 for Arctic Bay, Cape Dorset, Clyde River, Hall Beach and Tuktoyaktuk; and,

-Grade 12 for Sanikiluaq, Coral Harbour, Coppermine and Cambridge Bay.

Good planning is always important to make the best possible use of resources. However, in the current era of financial restraint, planning is absolutely essential. My department is undertaking a number of planning initiatives that will examine ways of increasing our effectiveness and ensuring that resources are distributed to boards in a fair and consistent manner.

For example, the department is developing capital standards and criteria for elementary and secondary schools, gymnasiums and child day care. These standards will be circulated to our partners in program delivery for input, reviewed by the Financial Management Board and then implemented.

Another of these planning initiatives is the school financing review. As you know, a supplementary estimate was brought forward in the last session of the Legislative Assembly, dealing with termination benefits, administration costs and funding student transportation based on consistent age and distance criteria.

The department has also conducted an inclusive schooling survey. When completed, the report will give the department the information necessary to identify student needs and develop a strategy in cooperation with the departments of Health and Social Services.

To help improve our ability to monitor the success of our school programs and to plan for improvements, the department is taking part in the school achievement indicators program, coordinated by the Council of Minister of Education, Canada. Earlier, I indicated and gave the Members of this Assembly an assessment of the work that needs to be done in this area. Mr. Chairman, I believe it is fundamental that we deal with core subject areas in our school systems.

As you are aware, we have recently received the results of the first mathematics assessment, conducted last spring. As I indicated, 13 year old and 16 year old students were tested on their understanding of mathematical content and on their problem-solving skills. The percentage of NWT students achieving at the highest levels was similar to the national results while a smaller proportion achieved at the middle levels. However, more NWT students achieved at or below the lowest level than their counterparts across Canada. As I indicated, my department is developing a strategy to improve the performance of NWT students. The first reading and writing assessment of the school achievement indicators program will be carried out this coming spring, while the first science assessment is planned for 1995.

Another area in which the department is working to provide leadership is the child day care program. The child day care program was transferred to my department on April 1, 1993. While continuing to operate and administer the existing program, staff have been conducting a program review which will give a detailed account of the patterns of program funding since 1989 and will help to confirm or identify problem areas in funding.

In late September, the department held the first ever symposium. I must say to Members in this House that the original symposium was scheduled for July. As a result of consultations with the child day care operators, their advice was that we should defer the symposium from July to September.

It is planned to make the casual day care program officer position in Iqaluit, serving the Baffin and Keewatin regions, an indeterminate position. This position assists subsidy clients in

processing applications and potential day care centre operators in establishing their programs.

Some of the recommendations from the symposium are long-term in nature and will be considered in the development of the department's strategic plan. These kinds of long-term recommendations include such issues as early childhood program development and the construction of child care facilities. Other recommendations will be considered in the development of a permanent early childhood care development program policy in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Chairman, I know that some Members of the Legislative Assembly have been disappointed by the length of time it has taken to develop this new program policy, and while I would have liked all the changes done by now, I am satisfied with the review and the consultation that has taken place and the plans to complete the development of this new program. Based upon our consultation and research, the new policy will introduce a number of elements that are not part of the current one, such as early intervention programs to identify children at risk, pre-school programs and parenting workshops. As a result, it is taking time to complete the research and develop this program area.

Mr. Chairman, there are many adults in the Northwest Territories who need opportunities for further education and training in order to find jobs and to pursue satisfying careers. Despite the fact that the federal government is reducing its expenditures on skills training, it remains a priority for this government. To offset the federal government's reduction and to improve access to the job market for social assistance recipients, my department is working with the Department of Social Services to develop the investing in people initiative. This initiative, which has been endorsed by Cabinet, will offer support to people receiving social assistance who are employable. We are currently working to resolve the question of how to fund this initiative in a time of restraint and are negotiating with our federal partners to cost-share this particular initiative.

This initiative responds to one of the recommendations of the Special Committee on Health and Social Services. As well, our government continues to work on the broader issue of social security reform. My department and the Department of Social Services have cooperated extensively to develop an agenda for reform, and we plan to release a joint discussion paper on the issue in late March or early April of this year.

Another major initiative is the division of Arctic College, the amalgamation of Arctic College with the Science Institute and the development of a funding allocation system for Arctic College. The funding allocation system will deal with the proposed accountability framework which details reporting required by legislation, college operations and department support of activities. The framework also includes a system of indicators to measure the effectiveness of each college program.

The amalgamation of Arctic College and the Science Institute would establish one institution within Nunavut and one within the western territory, and would be completed by July of 1994. I am proposing that the legislation providing for decentralization be on the legislative agenda for this Assembly.

While I realize, Mr. Chairman, that these remarks are long, it indicates to you that we have done, as a department, a lot of work, and even though we still have a lot of work, it shows that we have been proactive and constructive in trying to respond to the needs and wishes of Members of the Assembly and to the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 9-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 20, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 353

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, the Honourable Mr. Nerysoo. Do we have the introductory report from the Standing Committee on Finance? Mr. Ballantyne.

Standing Committee On Finance Comments

Committee Motion 9-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 20, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Likewise, our report is long and it shows the hard work and dedication that the committee put into their report.

The committee believes strongly that the education of northerners is one of the most important responsibilities of the government. In fact, the Standing Committee on Finance would like to see the government explicitly state that its highest priority is education.

There are many new initiatives coming from this department that suggest the government is taking this responsibility seriously. However, given the department's lack of strategic planning -- or probably, to put it more fairly, the lack of completion and implementation of a strategic plan -- and the apparent size and bulk of the education bureaucracy, we have concerns that the department may not be able to implement these initiatives in a timely and effective manner. For this reason, and because similar concerns have been identified elsewhere throughout the government, the committee is recommending that a priorized list of initiatives, with resource requirements and time frames, be developed for each department.

School-Based Youth Service Model ("Partners for Youth")

Committee Members described a pilot project being implemented in an Edmonton junior high school, based on a model called "Partners for Youth". With this model, developed in San Diego, a social services team is put together in the school. In the Edmonton example, at Wellington Junior High School, the ten-member team includes a nurse, a police constable, a social worker, a probation officer, a therapist, and so on. The goal of the project is to ensure that at-risk and potentially at-risk students and their families will have a school-based, single entry point access to a range of community services.

While our schools and communities may not be able to implement such a project on the same scale, the concept of a school-based single entry point is a sound one in the opinion of committee Members. The program is designed to require no extra funding; rather, existing resources are reassigned. We feel that this project deserves serious consideration by the government as a possible means of helping the youth and their families in the communities of the Northwest Territories.

Recommendation 11

The recommendation that I will make at the appropriate time will read that: The committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, in cooperation with the departments of Social Services, Justice and Health, examine the "Partners for Youth" model and implement pilot projects based on that model in one school in each region for the 1994-95 school year.

Teaching Days

The committee is glad to see that the department has considered increasing the number of teaching days in the proposed new Education Act. A preliminary assessment of how Canada rates in comparison with other countries in the duration of the elementary school year indicates that we fall somewhere in the low to mid-range. The committee encourages the department to pursue this comparison further by reviewing practices and corresponding results in other countries.

Staff Housing

Committee Members are concerned that the failure to build or lease new staff housing, especially in level II and III communities, along with the recent changes in the staff housing policy which have seen some sales of the government's limited staff housing stock in these communities, might well prove to be a barrier in hiring new teachers in smaller communities where there is little or no private housing market. We encourage this department to work closely with the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Personnel and the Housing Corporation to ensure that adequate housing is available for the teachers and other government employees in these communities. We are especially concerned about housing for the significant number of new teaching positions identified in the main estimates for the Department of Education in 1994-95. When the department presents its budget, the committee will require a plan for meeting the housing needs of each new employee on a community-by-community basis.

Special Needs

Many northern students have special needs that require extra resources. Committee Members are looking forward to the release of the final special needs assessment survey being completed by the department. The committee expects that, once the report is released, the government will see fit to ensure that adequate resources are provided to schools and other agencies to provide for NWT students with special needs. The department is encouraged to develop innovative approaches to special needs, including special schools if necessary.

Recommendation 12

The committee recommends that the government commit to allocating sufficient resources to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment for the 1994-95 school year to meet the special needs of northern students.

Arctic College

The committee expressed serious concern about financing the various campuses of the college. It appears that campuses which have been the most imaginative, proactive and successful in attracting third-party funding for their programs have been penalized in this year's budget. This strikes committee Members as being counterproductive. Given the government's limited resources, any initiatives which enable more and better programs to be provided without using more government funds should be encouraged, not discouraged. We encourage the Minister to develop a formula which will reward, not punish, the most innovative and successful campuses.

Recommendation 13

The committee recommends that the funding formula for campuses of Arctic College be designed to encourage innovation and success in attracting third-party funding.

The committee has a more general concern. The college budget is being reduced at a time when demands are rising. There are a number of factors contributing to this increased demand, including land claims implementation, mining developments, and planning and training for constitutional development. The department indicated that the new investing in people program will absorb some of this demand but the committee is very concerned that the one year lead time required for planning and implementation of this new program will cause a serious gap in the availability of training opportunities at a time when public expectations and demands on the college are very high.

Recommendation 14

The committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment provide a detailed report on the anticipated impact on programs of the reduced 1994-95 budget allocation to the college. The committee further recommends that this report be provided prior to the department's main estimates being considered in the committee of the whole.

Income Security Reform

The Ministers of Social Services and Education, Culture and Employment presented a new income security reform proposal to the committee during the budget hearings. This proposal along with the committee's comments are discussed under the Department of the Executive, executive offices on page 40. I think that has already been reviewed by this committee.

Achieving Excellence

The committee was gratified by the Minister's statement today as a first step towards recognizing excellence as a fundamental underpinning of the educational system. Committee Members are concerned that there is not enough emphasis on excellence in our schools. The youth of today will be the leaders of tomorrow. If today's youth are taught only mediocrity and "getting by," what leadership choices will we have tomorrow?

With the emphasis on reducing the dropout rate and working merely to keep children in school, we can sometimes lose our focus on achievement. School should not be a place where children learn to "just get by;" it should be a place where they learn to excel.

It is the responsibility of all -- and we emphasize all -- participants in the education system, including teachers, board members, bureaucrats, parents and especially students, to raise their standards, to do their best and not merely what's "good enough." Teachers and school administrators must be encouraged to be frank with students and their parents. If a child is having difficulty, the problem must not be ignored with platitudes and indiscriminate passing from one grade to another. Rather, the school, the student and the parents must work together to address the difficulty as early as possible before moving on to other areas. A new attitude of excellence will make a tremendous difference in the way students and teachers feel about their schools.

Recommendation 15

The committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment adopt a focus on excellence as the fundamental principle of the educational system and implement a plan by the 1994-95 school year to monitor the achievement of northern students and to continually strive to help northern students achieve excellence in their studies.

Standardized Testing

Again, we were glad to hear the positive response by the Minister's statement today to the results of standardized testing. In recent standardized achievement tests administered across the country, students from the NWT generally scored the lowest. These are unfortunate results. The committee is concerned not only by the results themselves but even more so by the reaction to those results. The reaction to a poor performance in standard tests should not be defensive. Rather, attention should be focused on developing ways and means to help our students achieve as well as or even better than other Canadian youth. As I said, the Minister's statement today is living up to the principle that we recommended.

One of the more undesirable spin-off effects of these results is that they imply to educators across the country that, for example, an NWT grade 12 diploma isn't as valuable as a grade 12 diploma awarded elsewhere. Committee Members believe that if education we provide our youth isn't portable, it isn't very valuable. It means that we are preparing our students only for life in their home communities but not for life in Canada and in the world. This is not acceptable.

So, when these tests tell us our students are behind their fellow Canadians, we shouldn't point fingers or try to lay blame. What we should do is sit down and say, "How can we improve? What do we have to do?" And then we should do it.

Recommendation 16

The committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment make a commitment to undertake the following: -To continue to participate in standardized testing and examine the results of the tests;

-To objectively compare northern students to the national average and determine the reason for any significant differences; and,

-To develop strategies to help students achieve at levels comparable to other students in Canada.

Further, the committee recommends that the department respond to the Standing Committee on Finance with an analysis and initial strategy by January 1, 1995.

Video Production

A recommendation which covers the need to provide a cost-benefit analysis for in-house video production is contained in the Executive section of this report, under the Financial Management Board Secretariat. I would like to thank the Minister for providing a briefing, in coordination with the Department of Renewable Resources in the area of video production. The committee is still analysing the results of that briefing and will report to the House when we have finalized our recommendations.

"Stay In School"

The committee is glad to see that the department has implemented a community-based "stay in school" strategy. The education of today's northern youth is critical to the future of the north and any strategy that is effective in convincing young northerners to stay in school and complete their education is a worthwhile one. We encourage the department to continue developing this strategy and incorporate measures by which its success can be gauged.

Day Cares And Schools

In keeping with the department's "stay in school" strategy, the committee was glad to hear about the department's plans to incorporate day care spaces into schools. Not only will this give young mothers a chance to attend school without major inconvenience to their children, it could also provide the opportunity for schools to teach courses in parenting skills. Opportunities to learn parenting skills could be available both to young mothers and fathers, as well as to other youth who should be prepared for eventual parenthood.

Committee Members do suggest, however, that the department avoid disrupting existing community day care facilities. Where possible, day care spaces should be developed with the cooperation of existing facilities. If the opening of a school day care would cause the closing of a community dare care, then alternate arrangements should be developed. The committee encourages the department to be flexible and innovative in this important area.

That completes the report of the Standing Committee on Finance on the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. I am prepared to move motions. The chairman is prepared to allow me to move motions. Thank you.

Committee Motion 9-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 20, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 355

The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Ballantyne, for a well detailed introductory report on behalf of the Standing Committee on Finance. With regards to Mr. Ballantyne's request for motions, do we have the concurrence of the committee that Mr. Ballantyne will get into the motions? Do we have a quorum? We will proceed. Agreed?

Committee Motion 9-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 20, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 355

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Committee Motion 9-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 20, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you. Proceed, Mr. Ballantyne.

Committee Motion 10-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regard to recommendation 11, I move that the committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, in cooperation with the Departments of Social Services, Justice and Health, examine the "partners for youth" model and implement pilot projects based on that model in one school in each region for the 1994-95 school year.

Committee Motion 10-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Ballantyne. Your motion is in order. To the motion. We don't have a quorum here, so we will ring the bell. Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 10-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 10-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 11, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Ballantyne, your other motions.

Committee Motion 11-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 12, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regards to recommendation 12, I move that the committee recommends that the government commit to allocating sufficient resources to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment for the 1994-95 school year to meet the special needs of northern students.

Committee Motion 11-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 12, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Ballantyne. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 11-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 12, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 11-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 12, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Ballantyne.

Committee Motion 12-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 13, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you. With regard to recommendation 13, I move that the committee recommends that the funding formula for campuses of Arctic College be designed to encourage innovation and success in attracting third-party funding.

Committee Motion 12-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 13, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Ballantyne. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 12-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 13, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 12-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 13, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Proceed, Mr. Ballantyne.

Committee Motion 13-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 14, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

With regard to recommendation 14, I move that the committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment provide a detailed report on the anticipated impact on programs of the reduced 1994-95 budget allocation to the department. The committee further recommends that this report be provided prior to the department's main estimates being considered in the committee of the whole.

Committee Motion 13-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 14, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair John Ningark

Thank you, Mr. Ballantyne. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 13-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 14, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 356

An Hon. Member

Question.

Committee Motion 13-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 14, Carried
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The Chair John Ningark

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Ballantyne.

Committee Motion 14-12(5): To Adopt Recommendation 15, Carried
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

February 23rd, 1994

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Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regard to recommendation 15, I move that the committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment adopt a focus on excellence as the fundamental principle of the educational system, and implement a plan by the 1994-95 school year to monitor the achievement of northern students and to continually strive to help northern students achieve excellence in their studies.