Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Yakeleya on October 19, 2006, regarding the Territorial Residential Schools Interagency Committee.

The Member asked for a territorial interagency framework for the survivors of residential schools in the Northwest Territories. The Member also asked for an outline of an action plan and the mandates, roles and responsibilities for the Territorial Residential Schools Interagency Committee.

The development of the territorial interagency framework will be an outcome of the coordinated partnerships between the GNWT and members of the Territorial Residential Schools Interagency Committee that will include representation of survivors of residential schools. It is our intent to have the first interagency meeting in the spring of 2007.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is taking the lead in the process to develop a territorial interagency framework.

As a first step, ECE has set up an internal working group to provide support to the residential school survivors' group in the NWT and to the GNWT social envelope departments to establish similar working or support groups. The internal working group is developing an action plan that identifies key areas of responsibility for the different divisions within ECE.

Following the establishment of an ECE-based working group, ECE plans to facilitate the formation of an interdepartmental support and working group for the GNWT by March 2007. The main objectives of this support and working group will be to launch the Territorial Residential Schools Interagency Committee, and to develop an action plan that identifies key areas of responsibilities for the social envelope departments. The group will also assure that support is provided to the residential school survivors' groups in a coordinated manner.

By May 2007, the Residential Schools Interagency Committee will develop terms of reference that plans to identify roles and responsibilities for committee members as they seek to provide support for survivors of residential schools in the NWT. A framework will be developed that will provide direction to the interdepartmental support and working groups about the key priorities in providing support, in developing action plans, and in carrying them out.

The Residential Schools Interagency Committee will also plan for the first face-to-face NWT Residential Schools Interagency Committee meeting by May 2007.

Mr. Speaker, the Member asked a question regarding how the region in the North will be an active participant with the interagency residential schools committees.

The committees will ensure that residential school survivors' groups and other related agencies are informed and participate in the consultation and review of action plans.

I would like to invite Mr. Yakeleya to help facilitate the participation of residential school survivors on the interagency committee and to have their representative contact Ms. Judy Desjarlais at the Department of Education, Culture and Employment at 867-873-7900, or e-mail [email protected], who is establishing a contact list for participation on the interagency committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.