Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

We do have a management development pilot program that is in place at the moment. There are ten affirmative action employees in the Fort Smith region who have chosen to take part in the training program. They will train over a one to three year period. Upon successful completion, they will be qualified to apply for

management positions within the Government of the Northwest Territories. I will ask Mr. Gerein to add to that answer.

Gerein

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The reference is to the senior management training program which is being piloted in Fort Smith right now. We propose to offer it more broadly and all GNWT senior managers would have to take the senior management training course. Part of it would be orientation to our government, but part of it would also be to develop a core set of skills that each manager should have if they are going to operate in this government. It would also allow these individuals to develop some networks and collegiality with other managers in government, and hopefully start to lead to increased sufficiency and effectiveness in the operation of the government itself.

Referring back to the Member's question about an individual on management training, that may well be under the public service career training program where the person has an individualized training plan developed as a trainee and, after a period of time, the individual would occupy the position which has been guaranteed by the host department. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have two questions for the Minister of Education. I am sure there are quite a few problems in the education system in the NWT. If you are requesting a teacher in a community, has there ever been a problem in providing accommodation for a teacher who is needed in a community, but cannot go there because of a lack of housing? Is providing accommodation for new recruits a problem in the communities? Thank you.

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The fact is we do run into that problem, but much of it as a result of reacting to needs. When we know there is a requirement between July and September or August, depending on when the school year starts, we are able to work that issue out. What becomes difficult is when we have to recruit a new teacher in January. The school year has started and we have to recruit a new teacher in the middle of the year because of the student population being more than what we had anticipated it would be. That is normally where we run into the most problems.

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Perhaps this question shouldn't be asked in committee of the whole. In the 1994-95 school year, have there been any requests from other communities for grade extensions? Which communities have requested grade extensions in the year 1994-95? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, there have been requests for grade extensions and they have been approved for the following: grade ten, Deline, Norman Wells, Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Taloyoak; grade 11, Arctic Bay, Clyde River, Hall Beach; and, grade 12, Cambridge Bay and Coppermine. Those have been requested and they have received support for the extensions.

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just to sum up my initial comments, starting with the definitive objectives of the department and also through Towards a Strategy to 2010, I am very impressed with the objectives of the Minister. It is strong of the Minister to try to meet all of the demands of the people, with the limited resources we have. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ballantyne mentioned earlier that if people would harmonize in this effort -- I think I can speak for community education councils, the regional divisional boards -- it would take very little effort to try to get some harmony from these groups. I think they would endorse the plan of the Minister. I would like to commend the Minister for his efforts, Mr. Chairman.

However, there is one main ingredient which is missing in this initiative which is primary. We don't have the financial resources to do this, but I can almost guarantee within the limited means that we have, the willingness of different levels of government is there. We have a very exciting future. If we work together, I think we can pull this off. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.