This is page numbers 997 - 1040 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 4th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was going.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

I believe that we told the committee that we are actually taking a look at the program right now. I hope to have some suggestions for revision to the existing program to improve services to children and parents very quickly. I would hope that we would be able to see that perhaps as early as the next chance I have to meet with the standing committee.

We are constantly looking for ways to improve the program and the fact that while we are a bit uncertain right now as to what may shake out from the federal government, what we need to do is start working on different options so that we are prepared to work quickly once we see exactly how the new federal government is going to structure their programs.

So we have done some of that primary work and we are trying to position ourselves to work with our partners from the other two territories to see if we can move things along with the federal government and then be prepared ourselves to improve our program.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Ms. Lee.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I chose not to do the preamble on that, but I should just explain what I am trying to say. There is so much need for children this age all over the North and for the money that we spend, there is so much inconsistency and discrepancy in what is available in each community for the early childhood education at this level; preschool, pre-kindergarten. We need to come up with a system where every community has some kind of a place available for the preschool children. I would really like to see some consistent application of what we have and I don't think we should just...The funding that might be available from the federal government is one thing, but that is an ongoing exercise on its own. It went on and on last time and it may go on again this time, but I think what I would like to see is us, within this Legislature and this jurisdiction, trying to figure out what the needs are, what is available now and what can we change to see that even if some programs have to be downgraded, if it means upgrading some programs in other communities, so that we can say, looking at it that in our communities, there is some kind of a standard for the preschool age kids where they can have a leg up and everybody could be exposed to some sort of preschool education program that everybody has a place that they could go to if they need to. We should include the funding in there for some kind of a physical place where the kids could go. We shouldn't have a situation like Lutselk'e where the children are having to be in an adult gym and move in and out of there. There are situations all over Yellowknife where there is a lack of consistency as to what is available where.

I think it's time that we look at a very comprehensive strategy, even if we can't meet them all. At least we get a picture of what we want to accomplish as a society for the preschool kids. I believe our territory has such high needs for those aged kids and we should make that a priority. We should state, as a stated goal, that we want to intervene at a very early stage, so that our children preschool age could have an early start in life. I think our size might be small enough that we should be able to identify all the kids at that level and see what we can do, whether it be to get included with the school. I mean, every community has a school. If it's a policy statement that we want to build in, with every school in town will

serve as our preschool, early childhood support service place, I think that would be a good start.

I know that the Social Programs committee has allocated I think the end of March, and we're fastly booking all the briefings. But it would be really good to have this kind of discussion at the end of March. Thank you.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I agree 100 percent with the Member, that investments in early childhood are the best investment the government or society can make. So I'd be quite happy to prepare a briefing for the committee on what some of the options might be. Thank you.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Ms. Lee.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

My question is on page 9-18, so I'll...

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you. We're on page 9-17, activity summary, education and culture, operations expenditure summary, $1147.207 million.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

We'll go to page 9-18. Ms. Lee.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have questions about some of the trends that I see here on the item number one, two, three, four, five, six, for example, for schools. We allocated $104 million in the year 2005-04, and last year the allocation was much lower, at $95 million but the actual expenditure is $99 million, and now this year it's $101 million. So is this where we're funding...What explains that downward trend, I guess? I want to know what's included in this item. There are lots of other downward trends in this area. Are we looking at a lower number of students? My understanding is that we are funding better in many areas. We're funding for kindergarten, we're funding more for special needs. So could I just get that explanation, please, just on that item to start with?

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Devitt.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Devitt

Mr. Chair, the main reason for the difference between the $104 million and the $95 million in the two columns would be the contribution for Mildred Hall, which is actually shown on page 9-22 and it's approximately $5.8 million. Thank you.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Devitt. Ms. Lee.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

So does that mean the capital and O and M is included in this altogether for schools?

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Devitt.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Devitt

Mr. Chairman, the reason government capital is not included in these amounts, but this is an amount that is contributed to another organization; in this case, the public school district No. 1, and they own the facility so it's not amortized on our books. Thank you.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Devitt. Ms. Lee.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Could I, then, ask questions on administration costs? The actual for 2004-05 was $2 million, and now we're looking at $1 million. So what's that allocation for? Thank you.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Devitt.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Devitt

That would be an amount that was recorded associated with the claims for residential schools. I believe it may have been the Horne case.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Devitt. Ms. Lee.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Then the next item, instruction and support services, we're seeing a difference of $5 million between 2004-05 to 2006-07, and we see a consistent trend of increase in 2005-06 main and 2005-06 revised. So could I get some explanation on that? Thank you.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Could I have Mr. Devitt answer that question, please?