Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair...(English not provided).
Mr. Chair, I'd just like to highlight what I've said in my language, particularly on the Head Start Program that was initiated back 10 years. We just celebrated a 10-year anniversary just last week or so and we had successful graduates out of the program. They'll soon become teachers in the small communities. At the same time, Mr. Chair, there's uncertainty on federal funding. At the same time, this jurisdiction is in the Northwest Territories. You know, similar to what happened with literacy cuts we didn't expect that to come, but it came and we dealt with it through our government system. I think we seriously need to consider that as well on this Aboriginal Head Start Program that's in limbo right now. We, as a government, need to seriously look into that. Depending on the federal funds we always stated, but we need to go beyond that, we need to commit ourselves as GNWT to say if there's no funding in place from the feds, these are our options. I, for one, would like to see those options.
Mr. Chair, I'd like to touch on the inclusive schooling, the 17 to 19 percent and also 20 percent in 2008-09. We have stressed this over and over with the Minister and with the department, with the colleagues around the table here and the Social Programs. This is key in the small communities, especially with the behaviour problems at a school, whether they need specialized equipment or a rehab team coming in and an increase of teacher assistants or special needs assistants to assist with those teachers.
At the same time, Mr. Chair, along the same line, pupil/teacher ratio has been reduced. It's great news for the teachers in the Northwest Territories. That gives focus to the teachers on those students that are in class. At times there are 35 to 40 students per one teacher. That's a big extreme, Mr. Chair. So I commend the department looking into that as well.
Mr. Chair, I'll certainly be highlighting the Aboriginal Language and Culture Based Education Program in detail. So I'll save my questions for that, but if I could continue with the 175 literacy initiatives. I've already touched on that, the cut from the federal government, but now we're committed. It's great news for the Northwest Territories, as well, again, for the smaller communities. We've stressed over and over and we've heard it at the community level that there's a real demand for these particular literacy initiative at the community level.
We, around the table, have stressed that Aboriginal Language Cultural Instructor Program be delivered on a full-time basis so they could qualify for the SFA Program, SFA qualification. Now the department has listened to us on part of Ms. Lee's statement as the chair of Social Programs, the need for a full-time program and it's here before us. Again, great news on the department for that initiative.
Just moving on to the Income Security Program, I'd like to thank the department for the proposed meeting on February 22nd to come to my community of Behchoko to explain in detail the income security and Public Housing Rental Subsidy Program that is available to the community and the communities-at-large. This, along with the partnership of NWT Housing Corporation, will certainly remedy some situations in the community and help clarify outstanding issues.
Mr. Chair, if I can finalize my statement on this $586,000 increase to Home Heating Subsidy Program. There again, pre-budget consultation, we've heard over and over about the seniors' program, but this will certainly allow and assist seniors with the high cost of heating their own homes, which is great news for the seniors in the community. Also, the increase of $922,000 for increase in wages for housing and fuel costs. Those are the good news that are coming out, but in detail, I will certainly seek more clarification and ask more detailed questions. I'll wait until then. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.