(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concern with the lack of sufficient special needs' teachers in our Arctic communities. The NWT communities are experiencing difficulties in school operations, mainly due to the cutbacks in funding. There are more students enroled in school, but there are fewer teachers to meet the needs of all the students, not to mention the lack of teachers for special needs' students. There is little to no funding to support an Inuktitut curriculum or quality Inuktitut programs for the students.
The cost of living in the Arctic is much higher than anywhere else in Canada. This presents a large problem when government initiatives deliver budget cutbacks on living allowances, base salaries, vacation travel allowances and other allowances. The quality and experience in teachers that are needed are at a risk with all the cutbacks in funding. Fewer teachers will flow into the High Arctic if funding is continually cut, which means our young people will have a limited education. I believe that it is important for our children to have a good education. We need good teachers to provide that and if we start to take risks with our children's education, where will it stop? The effects will be felt throughout our communities for many years.
Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling two documents at the appropriate time regarding this matter, showing concerns of the residents and the Baffin Divisional Board of Education with this ongoing issue. I hope that the Minister will be responding to the concerns they raise. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)