Debates of Feb. 25th, 1994
This is page numbers 367 - 397 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
- Members Present
- Item 1: Prayer
- Minister's Statement 26-12(5): Arctic Winter Games 1994
- Minister's Statement 27-12(5): Negotiated Contracts
- Using Discretion In Lotteries And Sweepstakes
- Creation Of New Words
- Recognition Of Pages From Dettah
- Question 204-12(5): Evaluation Of Grade Extension Program
- Question 205-12(5): Wastage Of Dpw Funds On Community Projects
- Question 206-12(5): Program Options In Community High Schools
- Question 207-12(4): Quality Of Education In Community Schools
- Question 208-12(5): Restrictions On Students From Communities Attending School In Yellowknife
- Question 209-12(5): Options For Parents And Students For Location Of Schooling
- Question 210-12(5): Success Rate Of Akaitcho Vs Home
- Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
- Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall
- Question 213-12(5): Factors In Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
- Question 214-12(5): Minister's Commitment To Provide Excellence In Education
- Question 215-12(5): Privatization Considered For Akaitcho Hall Rather Than Closure
- Question 216-12(5): Consideration For Operation Of Akaitcho Hall By Divisional Boards
- Question 217-12(5): Impact Of Alberta Budget On Nwt
- Question 218-12(5): Cost Estimates On Education Programs
- Question 219-12(5): Alberta/nwt Hospital Agreement Affect On NWT Residents
- Written Question 13-12(5): List Of Courses Offered In NWT Schools
- Item 12: Tabling Of Documents
- Motion 14-12(5): Establishment Of Special Joint Committee On Division, Carried
- Motion 14-12(5): Establishment Of The Special Joint Committee On Division, Carried
- Motion 15-12(5): Amended Terms Of Reference For The Advisory Committee On Social Housing, Carried
- Motion 15-12(5): Amended Terms Of Reference For The Advisory Committee On Social Housing
- Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
- Tabled Document 3-12(5): Towards A Strategy To 2010: A Discussion Paper
- Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95Committee Report 2-12(5): Review Of The 1994-95 Main Estimates
- Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
- Item 21: Orders Of The Day
Further Return To Question 210-12(5): Success Rate Of Akaitcho Vs Home Boarding Students
Question 210-12(5): Success Rate Of Akaitcho Vs Home
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 373
Madam Speaker
Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark.
Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions
February 25th, 1994
Page 373
John Ningark Natilikmiot
Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is directed to the honourable Minister for Education, Culture and Employment. First of all, I would like to commend the government for a job well done by having students outside of Yellowknife coming to Yellowknife by way of a program by this government.
Secondly, I would like to thank the staff at Akaitcho Hall for looking after students from my area.
Thirdly, I would like to thank the people from Yellowknife for allowing the students from outside of Yellowknife to come to Yellowknife.
Madam Speaker, my kids had the opportunity to attend school in Yellowknife. Their second home has been, for the past few years, Akaitcho Hall, which is very important. My question to the Minister is, has the Cabinet given approval in principle to the closure of Akaitcho Hall? The closure is due by June 30, 1994. Has the final decision been made on the closure of Akaitcho Hall? Thank you.
Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 373
Madam Speaker
Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.
Return To Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 373
Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, the final decision has been made that we will be closing
Akaitcho Hall and will be moving more into home boarding in this community.
Return To Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 374
Madam Speaker
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.
Supplementary To Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 374
John Ningark Natilikmiot
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Supplementary to the same Minister, through you. A few years ago when Mr. Kakfwi was the Minister of Education, I asked the same question about the possibility of the closure of Akaitcho Hall. At that time, the honourable Minister indicated to me, to the House, that the closure was not in the plan of the government unless we have high schools in all the communities. This is not the case. Why was the decision made even though there is no high school in my community? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 374
Madam Speaker
Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.
Further Return To Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 374
Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I can't answer for Mr. Kakfwi. The fact is that I've inherited an initiative that he started, and that was the regional high school program area, in fact, the initiative of moving toward community high school programs.
What we have to understand is, as a government, we also have to consider the matter of costs to run particular programs. The other element that is important for us to consider is that there are now, in Yellowknife for instance, over 100 additional home boarding opportunities for our children. There is a reduction in the total students who are going to be attending high school in Yellowknife because of our regional high school programming that is being offered, and the possibility of extending those particular high school grades in our communities.
In that sense, I think we're doing a better job and I think we'll be more successful in retaining or keeping our high school students in high school. Many of them drop out because they are concerned about their homes and their families at the community level.
I guess I speak as a former student who spent 13 years...I don't know how many of you here spent 13 years in the student residence, but I spent 13 years away from my family. I will tell you that I would rather have these young students staying home with their family, rather than spending as much time away from their home as I did.
Further Return To Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 374
Madam Speaker
Thank you. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark. Supplementary.
Supplementary To Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 374
John Ningark Natilikmiot
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Now that we have established that the closure of Akaitcho Hall is imminent, we know it's going to be closed, there is speculation in the air that perhaps Arctic College may take over the facility, or the private sector. What is the fate of Akaitcho Hall? Is anyone taking over the facility to perhaps take in students from outside of this community? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 374
Madam Speaker
Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.
Further Return To Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 374
Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Madam Speaker. We have not, at this time, made any decisions about the future use of Akaitcho Hall. What we have done is established a group in the government to review proposals. A number of agencies have indicated the possible utilization of Akaitcho Hall. One is Yellowknife Education District No. 1 in terms of our discussions with transfer of Sir John to their authority. Secondly, Arctic College is another agency that has expressed an interest in the possible utilization of college programming at Akaitcho. So, in that sense, we have not made any determination at this particular juncture.
Further Return To Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Question 211-12(5): Closure Of Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 374
Madam Speaker
Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.
Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 374
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Madam Speaker. On the subject of Akaitcho Hall, I was one of the first students in that residence back in 1958. I spent considerable time in residential school, myself. So did my brothers. I had two brothers attend Akaitcho. So the Minister doesn't have a monopoly on being in residential schools, if that's governing the decisions being made about residential schools.
I want to ask a question about the purpose for closing Akaitcho Hall. I guess it's been cited that there's a decline in the number of students. The place can't operate unless it's full, or a majority full. I would like to know whether the decline in the number of students in Akaitcho Hall is because the students didn't want to come to Akaitcho Hall, or because their parents didn't want them to come to Akaitcho Hall, or because the department didn't want them to come to Akaitcho Hall for education. What would be the factors?
Question 212-12(5): Reason For Decline In Students At Akaitcho Hall
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 374
Madam Speaker
Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.
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