Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform this Assembly how my department is using information technology to improve services and how it plans to make the most of a new data communications network that will link northern communities over the next two years.
The Department of Education, Culture and Employment has been actively involved in developing the northern information highway, in partnership with educational institutions, the private sector, the federal government, aboriginal organizations and the NWT Internet community. One of the most popular initiatives is a territorial education bulletin board, which has linked most educators and many students for the past four years.
My department also established the NWT's first World Wide Web site, which has been operating for more than a year and a half. The department has helped pilot a desktop video conferencing system, which has been used by high school science classes in Pond Inlet and Kimmirut.
Through the community access program, the department has provided public access to the Internet and training in 14 communities this year.
Mr. Speaker, my department plans to build on these accomplishments. A distance learning project team is assessing projects to be started in the next year. These include:
- training programs to help educators make the best possible use of information technology;
- automated access to the catalogue for the territorial public library system;
- improved access to career planning information;
- evelopment of aboriginal language operating systems and data distribution systems; and,
- expansion of the community access program to all NWT communities.
Mr. Speaker, the new territorial data communications network will save this government money. There will be less need for staff travel, reduced printing costs and streamlined administration. But more importantly, better access to information will mean all residents of the Northwest Territories will have a chance to improve their education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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