Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since 1999-2000 to this year, the amount of funding that has been provided to divisional educational councils to fund programs for children with special needs has gone from just over $6 million to over $16 million. So there has been a pretty dramatic growth in the amount of funding in the past four years. It has more than doubled. That I think indicates that there has been some commitment on the part of this legislature to provide funds, and I guess what we are going to have to find out in the next little while is whether or not that increase has been adequate. If it isn't, as the Member is suggesting, then as a legislature we are going to be challenged to try and deal with that. I would think though that with the kind of growth that we've seen in the last four years in special needs funding, that the money should be there, and we are going to have to try and work with the DECs and DEAs to find out how they are responding, and see if there aren't ways in which we can help them to make sure that the funding is being used properly. Thank you.
Charles Dent on Question 178-15(3): Students Suspended From School
In the Legislative Assembly on May 31st, 2004. See this statement in context.
Further Return To Question 178-15(3): Students Suspended From School
Question 178-15(3): Students Suspended From School
Item 6: Oral Questions
May 30th, 2004
Page 620
See context to find out what was said next.