All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand. Sixteen in favour. The motion has passed unanimously.

---Applause

Item 16, motions. Mr. Braden.

Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to return to item 5 on the order paper.

The Member is requesting unanimous consent to go to item 5. You have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize in the gallery Mrs. Barb Saunders, executive director of the NWT Status of Women Council.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 2, Bill 6, Bill 7, Bill 8, committee reports 3-14(4), 4-14(6), 5-14(6), 6-14(6), with Mr. Delorey in the chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would like to recommend the committee continue consideration of Bill 3 and committee reports 3-14(6), 4-14(6) and 5-14(6) concurrently, specifically to resume consideration of Education, Culture and Employment's budget and then moving on to the Executive if we conclude ECE.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The Chair will call a short break.

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I will call the Committee of the Whole back to order. We are here to do the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Does the committee wish to bring in any witnesses? Mr. Ootes.

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

Does the committee agree?

Sergeant-at-Arms, escort the witnesses in, please.

Mr. Minister, could you introduce your witnesses, for the record?

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. With me today are Dr. Loretta Foley, deputy minister of the department; Lesley Allen, assistant deputy minister for advanced education and careers; and, Paul Devitt, director of management services, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. We left off yesterday on general comments. What is the wish of the committee? General comments. Mr. Ootes.

General Comments

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just like to make reference to a couple of items. We handed out some reports with regard to the Aurora College campus in Fort Smith and some of the detail that was requested yesterday. As well, I can provide Members with an update as to the occupancy that is there today. Additionally, I have a report for Ms. Lee. This concerned her and there were questions on accountability for student needs funding. We have an accountability framework, Mr. Chair, that is outlined to every DEC and DEA and they are required to fill that report in which we will pass on to Ms. Lee, which identifies areas such as student support funding and how it is used. It is a number of areas the funding is used in. For example, student assessment, student achievement, teaching and learning centres and support staff and so forth. We will pass this on to the Members and we will have copies for other Members under their doors today, Mr. Speaker, in their offices. I will pass this on. We also have expenditures for each particular DEC that goes along with that. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess the question I need to ask is if Members want an update of today's occupancy of the Aurora College Campus in Fort Smith.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Is it the wish of the committee to receive that report? When could you provide that report, Mr. Ootes?

I've got it here, Mr. Chair, and we'll pass it on. On the occupancy rate, Mr. Chair, we have a number of buildings in Fort Smith. In Breynat Hall with 52 units, there are 11 vacant today, however, within two to three weeks, heavy equipment operators, carpentry and housing maintenance courses start so then the units will be filled up. The Brown House has 16 units with zero vacancy; the Green House has 17 units with four vacant; Grand Detour has 28 units with two vacant; Aurora Gardens, 25 units with zero vacancies; houses with 15 and zero vacancy for a total number of units of 153, Mr. Chair, with 17 units vacant and that is at 89 percent occupancy as of today. But it must be noted that this will increase to 96 percent once the heavy equipment operator, carpentry and housing maintenance courses start in early March. Thank you.

Mr. Bell.

Thank you. That was great. It was a little too quick for us to be able to get all that. I was wondering if the Minister can't just have that photocopied and distributed. It would be a lot easier. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Mr. Ootes, could you get that so it can be handed around? Thank you, Mr. Ootes. We'll start where we left off yesterday. General comments. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman and I thank the Minister for the information. I look forward to getting that information on special needs funding and accountability framework. I have another question coming out of the Minister's opening remarks and there were a lot of mentions there about the need to train our workforce and making sure that they can partake in our economy, but I didn't see much mention of what we are doing for those with disabilities in helping them get educated and getting them into the workforce as well, and, of course, we can assume that this applies to everyone, including those with disabilities. But specifically I want to ask the Minister to elaborate on that and specifically with the maximizing northern employment. I wonder if the Minister could give me information as to whether or not those programs apply for those students with disabilities; those employees, potential employees and graduates with disabilities. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Ootes.