Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman and committee members, I am pleased to present the 2003-2004 main estimates for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

Our 2003-2004 budget of approximately $210 million supports the five strategic goals of our mandate:

• • living northern cultures and official languages of the NWT;
• • solid beginnings for infants and young children;
• • children and youth with a healthy learning environment;
• • life-long learning opportunities; and,
• • maximizing participation in the northern economy.

The 2003-2004 main estimates for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment represents a $14 million increase over last year.

Before I proceed, I would like to acknowledge the work of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, and thank Members for their guidance and support during the development of our 2003-2006 business plan and our 2003-2004 main estimates.

Mr. Chairman, people are the NWT's most valuable resource. By investing in our people, we build a culturally rich and prosperous territory.

We are entering a time of unprecedented economic change and must continue investing to keep our people educated, prepared, healthy and ready to take their place in the North's future. With this in mind, we've developed our 2003-2004 budget. I would like to now address the department's budget specifically.

Early in its mandate this government saw the need to invest in its youngest citizens. You will see in the 2003-2004 budget an increase of $230,000 for programs funded through the early childhood development plan.

The department will add $4.7 million to the schools budget. This increase will allow the Department to complete its plan to:

• • reduce the pupil-teacher ratio to 16:1;
• • fund student supports at 15 percent of school funding; and,
• • cover higher school enrolments.

For the upcoming school year, the department will contribute $108 million to operate our school programs, a clear recognition of the importance of supporting students so they can succeed.

As well as succeeding academically, we know it is important for our students to have northern role models. We need to be able to attract our young people into the teaching profession. They, in turn, can then take their knowledge and skills back to their communities. This is key to stabilizing our teacher workforce, and to ensuring culturally appropriate education for all grades.

We have talked about the importance of a low pupil-teacher ratio. The department will complete its plan to reduce the PTR next year, and to fund student supports at 15 percent of overall school investments. The $2.8 million investment in this budget to lower the pupil-teacher ratio and raise student support services will offer assistance where it's needed the most, in the classroom.

School improvement is a priority of the department. In the current year, eight schools have improvement initiatives underway. Our objective for next year is to expand this and include rural communities. Our plan is to continue our focus on overall school improvement until every school in the NWT is a participant. We are also excited that next year we will expand the range of senior high school courses available. Our goal is to offer every student in the NWT with a pathway that meets his or her interests, needs and career aspirations.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment deals with many board structures. We deal regularly with agencies that deliver our programs, such as boards and education authorities, as well as with other clients, such as child care societies, that operate independently of the department. We are committed to increasing capacity through training to these organizations.

Take for example our child care boards. All of the department's regional early childhood consultants are now offering workshops on board development. The department is nearing completion of a specific volunteer board development package that will be distributed to all licensed early childhood programs.

Training to support program delivery is also a stepping-stone to accountability. The department interacts regularly with its boards, their staff and teachers to ensure we have a common understanding of program design and delivery.

Our accountability does not stop with our schools, but continues throughout our learning network. Training is provided on a regular basis to the people delivering programs such as income support.

As part of the social agenda, we have committed to work with partner departments to examine service gaps and to coordinate our programs. We have established an annual process for examining income support levels for food and personal care items, and we remain committed to monitoring this regularly.

I am pleased to report that more people are working and fewer people need income support. Due primarily to increased employment, we have been able to reinvest $1.6 million into education while ensuring that benefits are maintained for those in need. In addition, I hope by next session to distribute a plain language guide to our income support programs. This guide, much like the one offered in student financial assistance, will provide clear and concise information about the programs we offer.

Much of what the Department of Education, Culture and Employment does is tailored to meet Northerners' needs across their lifespan. Lifelong learning is a goal aimed at ensuring residents gain the skills and knowledge to participate in the workforce. Our emphasis on transferable learning that meets industry needs will pay off in NWT readiness for industrial development. Sixty percent of all NWT journeymen achieve Red Seal status. This is 22 percent higher than it was two years ago. Their qualifications are recognized throughout Canada.

In most cases, training to prepare for large projects is developed and delivered in partnership with industry. For example, we have established an Oil and Gas Territorial Training Committee based on the model of the Mine Training Committee. Again, although Education, Culture and Employment is leading this, success will require many partners. This committee includes representatives of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND), Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC), non-profit groups and the Aboriginal Summit. Through this partnership, we must continue to seek federal investment and a coordinated approach to implementation.

Under maximizing northern employment, there are opportunities for graduate interns to work for the public and private sector. In response to the social agenda, ECE will be extending the graduate internship program to the Aurora Research Institute. This initiative adds $150,000 to the 2003-2004 main estimates.

The Student Financial Assistance Program also supports transitions through life-long learning and career development. We have approximately 1,300 students using our programs. In 2003-2004, the department will add $474,000 to this program to help attract students to the nursing and social work professions. Another $133,000 is being added to the budget to pay for rising travel and tuition costs.

In 2003-2004 the department's budget will see an increase of $1.4 million for amortization. In addition, approximately $5.2 million will be transferred from capital allocations to fund infrastructure projects such as:

• • upgrading community library facilities;
• • upgrading community museums and cultural facilities; and,
• • renovating Mildred Hall School.

The department is proud of its employees who dedicate themselves to education and to supporting our people across the North. This budget includes $3.7 million to fund existing collective agreements with our employees working for our eight education authorities, the college and our department.

In summary, over $14 million will be added to the commitment of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment for the people of the NWT.

Mr. Chairman, committee members, all the investments I have outlined support the goals of this government and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. This concludes my opening comments. Thank you.