Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to present the 2010-2011 Main Estimates for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

The government’s vision of northern people leading fulfilled lives and contributing to a strong and prosperous society is the driving force for where we are going as a department. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment strategic plan, Building on our Success, along with the government’s strategic plan and initiatives provide the direction for our 2010-2011 Main Estimates.

The proposed 2010-2011 Main Estimates for Education, Culture and Employment total $306.388

million, an increase of 2.4 percent over the previous year’s main estimates.

The main estimates incorporate funding for ongoing programs and strategic initiatives for each of the department’s key activities. Key department initiatives that fall within government strategic initiatives include the expansion of early childhood development programs and the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative under Building our Future, Department initiatives under Maximizing Opportunities are to increase support for the arts, provide additional supports for apprentices and enhance various Aurora College programs. Initiatives under Refocusing Government are to enhance support for Internet use by the education system, the Early Childhood Small Communities Initiative, and official languages implementation.

Finally, Mr. Chair, Education, Culture and Employment initiatives under Reducing the Cost of Living are to provide small community employment supports and to develop and action an NWT nutritious food plan with our partners.

The 2010-2011 Main Estimates include close to $9 million for Collective Agreement increases for the staff of the department, education authorities and Aurora College.

The approximate $9.5 million utilities and maintenance budget transfer from Education, Culture and Employment to Public Works and Services is also reflected in these estimates.

Education and Culture

Early Childhood Development

In 2009-2010, the department reviewed early childhood and family literacy training programs, In 2010-2011, $600,000 will go to further improve early childhood programs; specifically, the provision of early childhood training, child and family literacy programming and research into models that link early childhood and school programs, Another $600,000 will go to further expand supports to early childhood programs and to improve the quality of such programs in small and remote communities.

School System

In real terms, the 2010-2011Main Estimates provide for a 3.5 percent increase in school contributions. An apparent reduction in the 2010-2011 schools budget is, in fact, a reflection of the $6.7 million school portion of the utility and maintenance funding transfer from ECE to the Department of Public Works and Services.

At the school level, Mr. Chair, the Aboriginal Student Achievement, or ASA, initiative aims to improve aboriginal student achievement across the kindergarten to grade 12 education system, thereby helping to eliminate the achievement gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal students, In 2010-2011, the $1.3 million will ensure implementation of

projects to promote attendance in 49 NWT schools, There will also be a mandatory orientation for all teachers on local culture, the NWT curriculum and more. The department will also launch a promotional campaign to raise parents’ awareness of habits that support student success such as regular, timely attendance at school.

In 2010-2011, $242,000 will go to the Western and Northern Curriculum Protocol, This is for cost-sharing with western Canadian jurisdictions, in the development and acquisition of grade 10, 11 and 12 mathematics resources in English and French. Another $106,000 will go toward purchasing additional equipment for the college and schools to better manage educational Internet usage and traffic, As part of this initiative, Education, Culture and Employment is working with the Technology Service Centre on a network needs analysis to better understand the traffic flows in order to determine the most cost-effective and efficient routing for all parties. In this way, our education system, including schools in small communities, will benefit from access to an efficient and reliable communications network. This should enable communities to improve access to distance learning, research and on-line studies for education.

In addition, the 2010-2011 Main Estimates include a $1.1 million increase to fund network usage, software licensing and security provided by the Technology Service Centre.

Culture and Heritage

In 2010-2011, an additional $200,000 will ensure the department can continue to support individuals, organizations and projects that showcase northern arts and cultures. The additional monies will be used to increase contributions to cultural organizations, heritage centres and new northern arts programs, With the latest proposed additional investment, this government will contribute $2.2 million in support of the arts and culture community in 2010-2011.

The 2010-2011 culture and heritage budget also reflects a $224,000 utility funding transfer to the Department of Public Work and Services.

Official Languages

In 2010-2011, $223,000 will support the launch of an annual Aboriginal Languages Summer Institute as a core activity for aboriginal language revitalization activities, The institute will provide professional development opportunities for language practitioners, Education, Culture and Employment will provide administrative support to the institute and to aboriginal language communities so language communities can be helped to effectively implement their language plans.

The department will also hold an aboriginal languages symposium in spring 2010, This symposium will offer an opportunity to bring together representatives from all northern aboriginal language communities, stakeholders and leaders to discuss how to expand the circle of responsibility for language revitalization. The goal of the symposium is to provide an opportunity for language communities to identify their priorities to revitalize, promote and support the languages.

Advanced Education and Careers

Adult and Post-secondary Education

In 2010-2011, $650,000 will be allocated to Aurora College for a three-part initiative to improve skills for living and working. First, a student wellness coordinator position is being funded by Thebacha Campus to promote and assist with choosing a healthy student lifestyle and achieving academic success, The coordinator will offer student counselling and other supports to enable a positive transition to residence life. Second, all three college campuses will offer new labour market and industrial training programs linked to employment and designed to address the requirements of industry and other partners. Third, the college will deliver a one-year Office Administration Certificate Program at Thebacha Campus to prepare graduates for employment in aboriginal, government and industry offices.

Another $100,000 will go to promote and facilitate access to the new NWT Secondary School Diploma for Adults. The diploma is based on an adult recognition model that combines academic course credits with prior learning assessment and recognition credits given for life experience, The department supports northern adults in completing the diploma application process and in documenting prior learning assessment and recognition credits.

A $427,000 increase in amortization is the result of $16.1 million in capital assets being put into service, including the Western Arctic Research Centre and community learning centres in Lutselk’e, Hay River Reserve and Tsiigehtchic.

The 2011-2012 adult and post-secondary education budget also reflects a $2.6 million utility and maintenance funding transfer to the Department of Public Works and Services.

Apprenticeship and Employment Development

In 2010-2011, Education, Culture and Employment is launching a new $350,000 initiative to provide opportunities for young people in small and remote communities to gain work experience and skills toward longer term employment. Programming supports will be targeted at youth aged 15 to 29 years. A wage subsidy program and associated promotional campaign will help employers offset the cost of hiring summer students and unemployed

out-of-school young people during the remainder of the year.

An additional $200,000 will be allocated to implement programs, supports and a communication strategy on available supports to encourage more northern residents, women and aboriginal people to pursue careers in the trades and occupations, In total, with this additional $200,000, $400,000 will be available in 2010-2011 in this area.

Income Security

The government will transfer the administration of public housing rental subsidies from Education, Culture and Employment to the NWT Housing Corporation for completion in this financial year, Our department will work closely with the Housing Corporation to develop a transition plan to ensure there is a smooth transition in responsibilities for administration of the program

In fiscal year 2010-2011, $160,000 will go to update the Public Housing Rental Subsidy Cost of Living Rent Reduction. This deduction offsets household cost of living by reducing he rent paid by public housing tenants, Education, Culture and Employment will work with the NWT Housing Corporation to keep tenants and local housing authorities fully informed of any cost of living rent reduction charges in a timely manner, The 2010-2011 Main Estimates also include $364,000 to allow local housing authorities to pay for the increased cost of employee salaries.

In fiscal 2010-2011, $400,000 will go to establish and coordinate an NWT Nutritious Food Steering Committee to include other government departments, non-government organizations and other stakeholders, The majority of this funding will be allocated to support food programs which will be delivered by existing agencies, including schools. Education, Culture and Employment will compile an inventory of existing nutrition activities, and work with the steering committee on an action plan to improve program coordination, to build on existing initiatives, and to develop and pilot new supports. By implementing pilot projects, the department will be able to gain information on how best to address the affordability of nutritious foods in the North. This information will constitute an invaluable element in developing the action plan with our partners.

Finally, the main estimates include an increase of $478,000 to support the approximately 1,400 post-secondary students who receive student financial assistance annually.

Concluding Comments

In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, the 2010-2011 Main Estimates for Education, Culture and Employment were developed to further both the goals of the Government of the Northwest Territories strategic plan and the objectives of our department strategic

plan, The 2010-2011 Main Estimates do the best job to meet the needs of most people given the resources at our disposal, We ask for your continued support as we move forward to the benefit of all Northerners.

I would be pleased to answer any questions that Members may have at this time. Mahsi, Mr. Chairman.