Agreed. Thank you. Does the committee agree that...Oh. Sorry. Page 4-8, infrastructure acquisition plan, Technology Service Centre, tangible capital assets, total tangible capital assets, $1.775 million, total activity, $1.775 million.

Agreed. Thank you. Page 4-10, infrastructure acquisition plan, petroleum products division, tangible capital assets, total tangible capital assets, $6.835 million, total activity, $6.835 million, and total department, $9.253 million.

Agreed. Thank you. Does committee agree that that concludes our consideration of the budget for the Department of Public Works and Services?

Agreed. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Roland, Mr. Gable, Mr. Aumond. At this time we will take a 15-minute break.

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Thank you, committee. I'll call the committee to order. First off, I will ask the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment to provide his opening comments on his department's estimates.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, the 2006-07 Main Estimates we bring forward today for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment total over $259 million for operations and maintenance and amortization of our capital assets. These estimates represent a net increase of $14.2 million, or six percent, over the 2005-2006 Main Estimates. This covers program growth and Collective Agreement increases. The main estimates also include additional funding for full-time kindergarten programs, inclusive schooling, community-based distance learning college programs, student financial assistance and senior supplementary benefits.

The main estimates support the broad goals of this government. As well, they were developed to strengthen departmental services and improve program results based on the goals and objectives outlined in the department's new strategic plan, Building on Our Success. The plan was released recently after extensive consultation with members of the public, as well as our departmental partners and this Legislature, and will be used to guide activities over the next decade.

I would like to highlight a few key activities of the department.

Education And Culture

First, within the education and culture activity of the department, we propose to spend $147.2 million on programs and services to residents of the NWT. Spending in this area includes monies for early childhood development programs and schools, as well as cultural and heritage programs.

Early Childhood Development

For 2006-2007, we plan to spend $4.7 million on early childhood development activities. These activities will add to the early learning provided at home to help provide children with a healthy start in life and to give them the learning tools they need to succeed in school and beyond.

As Members know, this government was in negotiations with the Government of Canada to establish a new Early Learning and Childcare Agreement, ELCC, over the course of the past year. Prior to the federal election, negotiations for additional base funding, in addition to the per capita amount, had not lead to an agreement acceptable to the Northwest Territories, leaving $941,000 in one-time monies available to the ELCC trust fund.

In the budget before you, we have not shown this money from the federal trust or increased the budget for early learning and childhood programs. I intend to bring forward the request for the approval of supplementary funding early in the new fiscal year to add the money available through the trust fund into our early childhood programming.

School System

For the 2006-2007 fiscal year, the department is budgeting over $135.6 million to support our schools. Most of this money will go directly to education authorities at the regional and community level.

Over the past decade, we have made steady progress in strengthening the school system. During the next fiscal year, we are planning specific actions to support improved results at all levels of the school system.

The third stream of programming or "Pathways" through second secondary school is now well underway. The emphasis of the Pathways Program is on the development of courses that prepare students for the world of work. It also ties in with other high school offers that are more academically or trades focused. In 2006-2007, we intend to increase funding by $50,000 and to complete the work begun in previous years.

The 2006-07 Main Estimates include an additional $1.638 million to fund education authorities so they can offer full-time kindergarten programs. The implementation of full-time kindergarten will help ensure we are giving children the best possible start.

As well, $1.764 million is being added to increase the budget for inclusive schooling from 15 percent to 17 percent of overall school funding for the 2006-2007 academic year. This initiative will be supported by the introduction of a new inclusive schooling directive and is part of a longer-term plan to increase the budget to 20 percent of school funding by 2008-2009. This increased funding will allow schools to expand assistance to students who require supports such as: program modification, counselling, behavioural intervention, specialized rehabilitation, medical services, personal assistance and specialized equipment.

Mr. Chairman, this government is committed to culture-based education and to supporting education in official languages other than English. The aboriginal languages and culture based education directive promotes the integration of language and culture throughout K to 12 programs. The directive outlines the requirement for culturally appropriate learning and provides direction to education authorities with respect to the $7.6 million in this budget to support aboriginal language and culture programs.

It is also important to note that the recently signed agreement between the Government of Canada and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada for minority-language education and second-language instruction will provide an additional $1.1 million for French language instruction in 2006-07. Although the agreement was not signed in time to show the increase in the 2006-07 estimates now before you, it will be brought in through supplementary estimates.

Official Languages

Mr. Chairman, the department has continued its work in a number of areas related to official languages. During the past year, and as we look ahead, we are continuing to take actions including:

• • revising legislation, policies and regulations to more clearly describe roles and responsibilities related to languages;
• • consolidating language functions related to overall government activities;
• • reinforcing accountability related to language funding with departments and education authorities; and
• • increasing contact with language communities through partnership with the official languages and aboriginal language revitalization boards.

In 2006-07, ECE is proposing to spend $2.2 million on official languages activities. Most of this funding will be used to support the language plans and activities of the official languages communities. In addition, we are negotiating with the Government of Canada to renew the Cooperation Agreement for French and Aboriginal Languages. Finalization of the renewal of this agreement has been delayed as a result of the recent federal election.

Advanced Education And Careers

Within the advanced education and careers activity, the department proposes to spend $42 million. Programs and services in this area provide northerners with access to career development, skills training and post-secondary education needed to successfully participate in our expanding economy.

The department is working with other governments and industry to assist northerners to access training and work in the growing resource sector. Examples of this work include the department's participation in the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership agreements, or ASEP, and in socio-economic negotiations on major resource development projects.

Community-based education programs are needed to prepare residents from our small communities to enter post-secondary programs such as teacher education, education assistant and early childhood work. In 2006-07, an additional $240,000 is budgeted to fund Aurora College to pilot distance learning access programs focused on attracting community residents into education-related careers. If the pilot proves to be successful, the department will bring forward a request for ongoing funding to support the delivery of this program.

As a first step in examining whether we should develop a framework for increasing GNWT involvement in labour, this government has consolidated all employment and labour functions in the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Over the next year, ECE will complete the consultation leading to amendments to our Labour Standards Act.

Income Security Programs

Within the income security activity, the department proposes to spend $63.9 million during fiscal year 2006-07. Spending in this area includes monies for student financial assistance, income support and public housing subsidy programs. Given limited resources and the requirement that those in the greatest need receive support, it is necessary that we carefully review and adjust our income security activities.

We have started this process to rationalize our programs under a common policy framework and model. This began with the consolidation of the funding for housing subsidies within income support programs offered by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. On April 1, 2006, one-stop community service centres will begin delivering a range of income security programs. A regional career centre will support each community service centre. Clients will be able to access programs including: senior fuel subsidy, senior supplementary benefits, income assistance and housing subsidies, as well as be able to obtain information on student financial assistance and a number of federal income security programs.

These actions are part of a process that is expected to take several years, as it will involve extensive discussion and review. This is difficult work that will involve a lot of consultation and careful planning. In the end, it should result in GNWT programs that are clearly targeted to increase self-reliance, a critical foundation of our government's strategic plan.

ECE will assume administration of the $32.6 million Public Housing Rental Subsidy Program on April 1, 2006. The department is budgeting $1.3 million to support the transfer of this responsibility from the NWT Housing Corporation. Savings in administration costs in the corporation will offset the increase.

In recent years, student financial assistance benefit levels have not kept up with the increasing cost of post-secondary education in Canada. In 2006-07, ECE is budgeting an additional $573,000 to increase the tuition and textbook supports under the basic grant from $1,750 and $300 per semester to $1,925 and $400 respectively. At these levels, aboriginal and northern-schooled students will find it less necessary to access repayable loans to meet their basic expenses.

Payments to seniors also need to be adjusted for inflation. To assist low-income seniors with the high cost of living in the Northwest Territories, the main estimates include an additional $326,000 to increase their monthly benefit allowance that seniors receive under the Northwest Territories Senior Citizens' Supplementary Benefit Program by $25, from $135 to $160 per month.

Infrastructure - Capital Expenditures

Finally, the departmental budget is supported with a request for continued investment in suitable education facilities over the plan period. With more than 70 educational facilities across the Northwest Territories, a number of which are nearing the end of their operational life, it is not surprising that we need to continue to make investments in educational facilities.

The 2006-07 infrastructure acquisition plan profiles more than $120 million of improvements to school and college facilities over the three years of the plan. New schools will be constructed in Tulita and Ndilo. Schools in Gameti and Yellowknife will be renovated. We are currently examining whether the Chief T'Selehye School in Fort Good Hope should be renovated or replaced. The current plan indicates that the school is to be renovated, but we have been monitoring the building and an adjustment to the current plan may be necessary. As well, the addition of a new modular classroom in Colville Lake is being advanced so that it can be available for use during the 2006-07 school year. Finally, new student housing will be built at college campuses in Fort Smith and Inuvik.

This concludes my opening remarks. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Minister Dent. I would now like to go to Ms. Lee, chair of the Standing Committee on Social Programs for the standing committee's comments on the main estimates. Thank you. Ms. Lee.

Introduction