Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Lafferty on October 19, 2006, regarding GNWT funding for literacy programs.
The Member asked for a breakdown of the funds that the Government of the Northwest Territories provides to the NWT Literacy Council and whether the funds are committed on an annual basis. Each year, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment provides approximately $500,000 to the Literacy Council, including $96,000 for core services, and $400,000 for individual projects. Core services and projects are reviewed annually based on identified needs and priorities.
In 2005-2006, ECE provided $489,000 to the NWT Literacy Council. To date in 2006-2007, ECE has provided the NWT Literacy Council with $500,000.
The Member also asked for a breakdown of the funds that the GNWT provides for literacy programming, whether the funds are committed annually, and what communities benefit from the funding. Each year, ECE provides a total of $6 million for literacy programs, including $4 million to Aurora College, $500,000 to the NWT Literacy Council, $700,000 for community literacy projects, and another $850,000 to support aboriginal language literacy, community libraries, persons with disabilities, and research projects.
All communities benefit from literacy program funds. Aurora College has a formula that determines funding allocations for adult literacy and basic education programming in all NWT communities. Communities are also eligible to apply for funding under the community literacy development fund, learning support for persons with disabilities and aboriginal language literacy. These programs are driven by proposals. The community library fund has specifically benefited the communities of Hay River, Yellowknife, Inuvik, Fort Simpson, Hay River Reserve, Deline, Fort McPherson, Aklavik, Fort Good Hope, Fort Resolution and Ulukhaktok.
The Member asked a final question about the amount of core funding that the GNWT provides to the Literacy
Council. As I indicated earlier, ECE provides the NWT Literacy Council with $96,000 annually to provide core services. The rest of the funding is for identified and agreed to projects. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.