Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. An environment that will sustain present and future generations is one of the goals of this Legislative Assembly and how we manage caribou is a major part of achieving that goal. Actions taken by the Government of the Northwest Territories to deal with declining populations of barren-ground caribou herds have improved our environmental planning, protection monitoring and water management activities as envisioned in the Northerners Working Together plan.

The guiding document for our caribou stewardship actions was a 2006-2010 Barren-Ground Caribou Management Strategy. This strategy resulted in the increased investment by our government and our partners to work together on the necessary actions needed to help stabilize declining herds and intensify the collection of information required to make wise management decisions.

These management actions, successfully implemented with our co-management partners and Aboriginal governments, have helped stabilized three previously declining herds -- the Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West and Bluenose-East herds -- and slowed the decline of the Bathurst herd.

During the past five years we have strengthened relationships with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal groups using barren-ground caribou and enhanced the research and monitoring efforts necessary to manage these herds.

I want to recognize the individual harvesters and Aboriginal governments who have shown

leadership and taken actions to help caribou recover. This has not been without costs.

However, as barren-ground caribou herds remain at low numbers, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure barren-ground caribou remain a plentiful resource.

Later today I will table the next five-year management strategy for the barren-ground caribou. This draft new strategy builds on the 2006-2010 strategy and previous management planning initiatives recommended by co-management boards, Aboriginal governments, caribou management boards and NWT communities. It does not replace herd-specific management planning. It provides a unified framework for those plans.

Strategies have been identified for the following five key components: engaging partners in the management of barren-ground herds, ensuring information is available for sound herd management, managing impacts of key factors on caribou herds, public education and compliance, and maximizing benefits.

Implementation of this new strategy will require significant new investment. Key actions include developing and completing management plans for all herds and building capacity for involvement in conservation actions. It will require resources from partners who share responsibility for managing barren-ground caribou herds. These partners include Aboriginal governments, co-management boards, caribou management boards, the governments of Canada and neighbouring jurisdictions.

Mr. Speaker, there has been tremendous commitment by many people to stop the decline of caribou. We need that commitment during the next five years to support the recovery of all herds to levels that benefit all residents. Advice and direction from co-management partners and Aboriginal governments are critical in defining specific actions needed for each herd.

We have made progress in conserving our barren-ground caribou herds during the past five years and continue to invest in improved environmental stewardship through the Managing This Land strategic initiative, which has funded work on the draft strategy and improved caribou monitoring.

Our success over the next five years rests with all residents. I encourage everyone to review this draft new five-year strategy and provide their comments and feedback on the actions proposed in it. By continuing to work cooperatively to manage these herds, we can ensure our caribou populations remain plentiful to benefit current and future generations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the title of our strategic plan is Northerners Working Together. This reminds us of an important point, that it requires the effort of all Northerners to help us achieve success on the goals of this Assembly. In acknowledgement of the contributions our residents make towards our goal of healthy, educated people, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is now accepting nominations for inductions into the Education Hall of Fame this year. This is a great opportunity to give recognition to Northerners dedicated to education in the Northwest Territories. This includes anyone who supports education, from teachers to coaches, custodians, volunteers and community businesses and also sponsors.

This is the second year the Education Hall of Fame has been in place and the recipient format has changed slightly. The new format sees one inductee from each region in the Territory and a Minister’s Choice nomination. This year there will be a total of seven inductees, Mr. Speaker.

Accepting one inductee per region respects regional contributions and is more inclusive. It also gives local leaders and organizations the opportunity to become more involved in the education of their community, as we have heard through our Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative that they would like to be.

The department is accepting nominations up to Thursday, March 31, 2011. Electronic nomination forms are available on the department’s website and at regional Education, Culture and Employment service centres and district education council offices. I hope Members will take the opportunity to nominate a deserving person from their region and encourage others to do the same as well.

Mr. Speaker, successful nominees will be announced in April and will be invited to a ceremony and luncheon scheduled for Tuesday, May 17th , at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage

Centre. Inductees will receive a plaque commemorating their achievement and a gift

certificate from our sponsor First Air, who we thank for this continued participation.

I look forward to announcing this year’s inductees to the Education Hall of Fame and recognizing their contributions to education in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the support of Education, Culture and Employment and other government agencies, Route 51 Learning Institute has become a successful source for alternative education for Yellowknife students since its opening in November 2009.

The objective of Route 51 is to provide academic improvement in achievement to non-traditional learners and prepare non-academic students with skills to enter the workplace. In the beginning, due to the late start in the year, YK No. 1 was hoping to register 40 students. However, Route 51 served a total of 112 students by the end of June 2010. For the 2010-11 school year, YK No. 1 was hoping to accommodate 75 students. Currently, there are approximately 125 students registered.

The school has seen many successes. One of the anticipated outcomes of the program is for students to find success at Route 51 and be able to transition back into Ecole Sir John Franklin High School. Route 51 prides itself in offering students with alternatives to learning that can’t be found anywhere else: flexible schedules, which allow students to fulfill other obligations and activities; flexible timetabling to allow Ecole Sir John High students to take courses at Route 51 which they can’t fit into the schedule at high school. There is a close liaison between Ecole Sir John Franklin High School and Route 51, who offer support for student learning. A nutritious conscious environment and healthy homemade snacks made by two staff members, Joyce Whiteford and Kirstin Prescott, fits with YK No. 1’s strategic goal of living healthy lifestyles.

Route 51 is exploring a number of opportunities for students in the near future. These include ways to expand electronic workspaces to meet growing demand of students, building a partnership with Breakaway Fitness to offer students opportunities to receive credit for physical education which fits in with YK No. 1’s strategic goal of living healthy lifestyles, and exploring opportunities for CTS modules and trades and apprenticeship programs.

The students and staff at Route 51 along with YK No. 1, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the larger community have all contributed to creating a place of learning that is serving our young people well.

Mr. Speaker, I and some of my colleagues visited Route 51 last week. It is clear to us the pride that the staff and students take in Route 51 and the opportunities and good work it is providing. I encourage all students looking for alternative education support to visit Route 51 to find out how they can help. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Elders have a huge role to play in our education systems of today. They remind youth what wisdom is and what real education means. Their presence in schools, though too rare, brings stability and assurance to our young people that are currently wanting. Let’s work to ensure that our elders are able to fulfill their key role in every one of our educational facilities.

Today I especially want to salute the woman who is the traditional heart and soul of K’alemi Dene School in Ndilo, Mary Jane Francois, who the children call Mrs. Fwasi.

---Applause

Mrs. Fwasi is the school elder. On joining the K’alemi Dene family 10 years ago, Mrs. Fwasi introduced herself and her Weledeh dialect, and the children heard “Francois” as “Fwasi.” Teachers thought this was a pretty good example of how people learn language and the name stuck. Mrs. Fwasi likes it because it has such a nice rhyme with mahsi.

Mrs. Fwasi instructs the children in the Weledeh dialect and advises teachers on words and expressions as they relate to the daily lessons. Students learn the Yellowknives Dene First Nations history, its landmarks, traditions and culture at Mrs. Fwasi’s knee. Mrs. Fwasi’s lessons come from her stories and memories and straight from the heart. Visit K’alemi Dene and you are instantly greeted by the beauty and accomplishment of Mrs. Fwasi’s presence. Her newly completed full moosehide beadwork tapestry is on proud display in the new school’s foyer and was an experience of creation shared by all the students.

Mrs. Fwasi is now working on a huge baby blanket with traditional beadwork on white stroud. This masterpiece will be displayed above the school’s vision and mission statements.

Mary Jane Fwasi will celebrate her 70th birthday

June 1st . Teachers and students are planning a

huge celebration to thank their spiritual grandmother of all these years. In the words of K’alemi Dene principal Angela James, “we love our Mrs. Fwasi and are blessed to have her sharing her language, traditions and culture with the students and staff of K’alemi Dene School.”

Mr. Speaker and all colleagues, please join me in saying, Mrs. Fwasi, mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak on a very important topic and the overall well-being of society of First Nations people in the NWT, Mr. Speaker, the rate of absenteeism in our schools in the small communities. Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious problem and the responsibility must be shared. The high rate of absenteeism is the responsibility of the local district education authority and the district education councils, the teachers, the parents and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, if our children do not attend school regularly, they are being deprived of an education that is so important for their future and the future of the NWT. We need educated people to take over the running of First Nation communities, regions and this Territory. Without this education, we will rely on others to come into the communities and tell us what to do.

Mr. Speaker, it is a fact that if a student misses five days a month, by the time they are in grade 8 they are two years behind and not ready for high school, let alone be successful in high school. Mr. Speaker, if our students are not ready for high school when they get to high school age, there is no way they will be ready for post-secondary education when they get to post-secondary education age.

Mr. Speaker, if the First Nations want to control their lives, they must ensure that their children are in school every day. Mr. Speaker, if the First Nations children attend school over 90 percent of the time, their marks are comparable to non-Aboriginal children in the school system.

We need a plan to address this issue. We need the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to work with the education authorities, educational councils and they will, in turn, work with the teachers, the children and the parents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. This is Education Week and I hear that Education, Culture and Employment is challenging residents to take part in the Thumbs Up contest to identify ways people can support the education system. Well, I have thumbs up for two Fort Simpson men who are doing a great job encouraging our students to think about their future. I am speaking about Bob Norwegian and Wilbert Antoine who are excellent role models. These two cousins have 75 years of trades experience. They left the North and made careers and now they have returned to Fort Simpson and want to make a difference and help our Aboriginal youth. They spend their spare time in the bush and maintain traditional values. It doesn’t seem like youth are hearing much about careers in oil and gas and mining industries. Who better to get students to listen to what opportunities are available than Bob Norwegian and Wilbert Antoine, who can show how the industries have affected their lives in a positive way.

They tell students about the thousands of types of jobs that are out there: employment as electricians, engineers, geologists, machinists, environmental technicians, management and many others.

A recent article in the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers publication highlighted what a good role model these men are. Bob Norwegian has been an electrician and instrumentation technician in the oil and gas industry working on gas plants, oil pipelines, jet turbines and he has designed and built microprocessors. He now operates Rabbit Skin Ventures with his wife in Fort Simpson. Wilbert Antoine has worked in coal mining and diamond mining and is presently the northern development officer for Canadian Zinc.

Both men are committed to helping kids understand how important education is and how preparing for a good job just doesn’t happen overnight. Tomorrow they will meet with Aurora College students in Fort Simpson to continue their great work and I wish them well.

They have told me that our grandfathers took every effort to do things on their own. They want to show the youth today, with their stories, that this is still true. When you have a dream, you can follow it.

Thumbs up to Wilbert Antoine and Bob Norwegian for their enthusiasm in encouraging our students to think about the long term and the future they can create for themselves. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to speak on Education Week, and more importantly, dealing with the education curriculum that we offer to our students in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I think it’s important that we develop a curriculum that’s meaningful to our students’ education and gives them an opportunity to learn the bright history, and more importantly, the knowledge that has been held here for thousands of years from their ancestors, regardless if its treaty rights, land claim rights, or even preservation of our language and culture.

Mr. Speaker, the Beaufort-Delta Divisional Board of Education along with its partners, the Inuvialuit and the Gwich’in, have developed language curriculum which is now presently in place in the Beaufort-Delta. It provides an opportunity for Aboriginal students in the Beaufort/Mackenzie Delta to learn the language curriculum in the classroom developed by the communities that they come from, and more importantly, by the cultural groups in the region.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I think it’s important not only to educate our students but educate ourselves as Northerners, to understand the amazing history of the Northwest Territories and understand the area of Aboriginal rights, treaty rights, old treaties, modern day treaties, but more importantly, what does it mean by way of wildlife acts, the history of the trapping industry in the Northwest Territories and looking at the overall revolution of how we’ve evolved over the last 150 years from simply having trading posts to now large communities to urban centres and large rural communities that exist. In some cases in the history of the North, some of these communities that exist today well exceed 150 years. That’s an important part of our history that we have to not only preserve and protect, but pass on to our younger generation and develop that curriculum in our schools in the Northwest Territories so that our students can also understand the history of the North and where we come from and where we’re going.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to use my Member’s statement to acknowledge the passing of Jack Adderley in December. Jack was 86 and had lived in Yellowknife for 52 years. He was well known for many things, especially his humour. One of the

lasting efforts that Jack left our community was the 1972 partnership with Jack Sigvaldson, commonly known as Sig, when the two of them launched their own newspaper, a local rag called the Yellowknifer. I’m sure many of you may have heard of it before.

The first cutting-edge newspaper was designed on the desk of a kitchen table and the dark room was Sig’s bathroom. The NWT government at the time didn’t think that their enterprise was worth financing. Times changed and moved past, and nearly 39 years later that has evolved into the Northern News Services, which has published seven different community papers. With the characteristic candour and style that Jack had been known for, he reported government oversight and hard criticism and accountability on Yellowknifer’s anniversary every year.

Before arriving in Yellowknife, Jack had served in the Royal Canadian Navy in World War II and in Korea. He was a signalman and he brought those skills here to the North by providing Morse Code, which at that time was one of the only ways to communicate out of the North.

By 1959 he moved to Yellowknife and worked at the Yellowknife Airport. Jack’s voice was also heard and entertained many Yellowknifers over the years from his commentary when he announced and covered the hockey games and in the summer when he covered the ball games at Tommy Forest Park. Eventually he even had his own radio show on CBC Sports called the Jack Adderley Sports Reel. George Tuccaro, our esteemed Commissioner, has credited Jack for helping him on his way to become a successful broadcaster.

Jack Adderley had been involved with many, many community events and he certainly was a player in the activity of our city. He was active in the Royal Canadian Legion and was often the parade marshal on Remembrance Day. He and his wife also helped establish, with their work, the Abe Miller Centre. Both Jack and his wife, Mary, spent their final years at Aven Manor, where Mary died two years before him.

While Jack was a resident at Aven, I had many occasions to stop and hear many interesting stories from him. My favourite was when he would talk about the stories of how he and Sig would settle their editorial disputes and, certainly, creative arguments at the paper, which was simply flipping a match and deciding who won over that.

In closing, my condolences go to the Adderley family. Jack will certainly be missed by many people. I certainly will make note that the Aven Manor has never been the same without him. I miss his stories and his laughter.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to lend my voice today -- what’s left of it -- to celebrating Education Week. Last week Mr. Lafferty called on all NWT residents to help in promoting education this week. I’m very happy to help him do that.

The Minister also stated that learning is a lifelong journey and I couldn’t agree with the Minister more. I’m proud to say that I’m a product of the local school system here in Yellowknife and I’m very grateful for the teachers and the facilities that I had along the way. Now that I have a son that’s at Montessori at N.J. Macpherson, the cycle continues, only this time as a parent.

Schools are the very foundation of the community. I’m very fortunate to have two great schools located in the riding of Kam Lake: Ecole St. Joseph School and N.J. Macpherson. I want to thank all the teachers, administration and support staff at those two schools for all they do for our children and our community.

My vision for the future of educational needs and facilities in this community involves a stand-alone college campus for Aurora College. Ultimately I do believe a university can and should be established somewhere in the North. Currently Canada is the only circumpolar nation without a university located north of the 60th parallel. It’s time to set the course

for a stand-alone campus for our college, which is long overdue.

In the foreseeable future, capital dollars are going to be hard to come by. That is why the planning, coordinating and partnerships need to be developed today to get this campus built. We need this campus. Many of our bright, young, talented high school graduates have to go south to post-secondary school. Sadly, some of them stay in the South getting work, finding relationships and taking on their life in southern Canada. By providing an environment with a campus and expanded programs, perhaps we could keep more of our students here at home and our young people here at home.

Again, as this is Education Week, I want to thank all those involved in education around the Territory for all they do for us.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too want to add my voice to the Members and to talk about education. A couple of days ago, when I

brought my young son to Mildred Hall School, my son was talking to me and saying that at the school they were learning the Dene laws. I said, oh, what kind of laws are you learning? He said, well, we’re learning about the Dene laws. I said, well, what laws do you know right now? He said, Dad, Dene law number three. I said, well, what’s number three? He said, Dene Law number three is love one another as much as possible. And I was going, oh, my God. Mildred Hall, I want to thank them for all the teachers and that, that they’re teaching about the Dene laws. That’s a law that my son is talking to me. That’s a very strong law and a very powerful law. It’s a good law to remind me. That is part of our education system today in the North here that they are teaching in our schools. How do we practice that law in today’s society? It’s very hard, very difficult. Yet our younger kids are learning this and we have to show them.

People in the North are listening to us. The Aboriginal governments are listening to us. They’re talking about us while we’re in this room talking about them. Something that we need to look at in our education field is that we come a long way from off the land into the world of computers. We really have to thank our teachers, our parents, the elders and the teachers today for helping us.

I also want to thank colleagues like us here, that day in day out have to be conscious of what we’re leading our people to.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have an excellent education system here in the North but it’s not quite working as it should. One only has to look at the 2010 student assessment results released by the Department of Education in January to know that. For the 2009-2010 school year, the highest percentage of students working at or above grade level in English Language Arts was 81 percent. That was for grade 1. The numbers, unfortunately, go downhill as the grades go higher. Interestingly enough, the numbers for students functioning at or above grade level in Mathematics is higher than for English.

Education is one of the pillars essential for the foundation on which the success of NWT residents depends. Research shows that, along with poor housing and health, low levels of education result in socially disadvantaged people. I believe that our Department of Education is aware that our system is less than perfect, but I don’t think we’ve yet figured out how to make it really important to our residents to ensure that our kids get to and stay in school. Many factors contribute to this situation; distrust of schools and education on the part of

parents, for instance. I believe that our northern society does not place as much emphasis on the importance of education as we should, particularly our leaders.

The Miriam-Webster definition of “lead” is “to guide someone or something along a way.” We have leaders for a reason. We rely on them, we take cues from them and we follow their advice. I believe we need to convince our leaders, all leaders -- community leaders, government leaders, sport leaders -- that they hold the key to getting and keeping kids in school. If a leader sees that the kids are not attending school, then he or she should be speaking out about it, saying that it’s wrong. He or she should be visiting the family, asking why the kids are at home during the school day. He or she should use their influence to change the culture of their community so that education is important and is priority number one.

People listen to their leaders, and I include MLAs in that group. We have influence and we should be using it for the educational good of our children and our Territory.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following on my colleagues for Education Week, I’d like to talk about some of the teachers that we have in Tuk that are leaving this year.

I was nine years old when Ms. Cameron came to town; her and her husband Brent. She really influenced me to always try and progress myself in school. She taught every one of my kids, all four of them. She won’t get to teach Mikayla, but she’s only eight, so hopefully next year. Ms. Cameron will be retiring back home to Cape Breton.

Mrs. Hayslip, who has always been a rock for the community and working with the kids in Tuk, pushing them, making sure they’re doing the best they possibly can.

Mr. and Mrs. Dawson, all the hard work they’ve done for the community of Tuk.

This year we had our long-time education...Thirty-five years Jean Gruben sat as the director of the education board in Tuk. I’d really like to thank her and all the hard work she’s done for all the kids.

All of the teachers in the Territory, thank you. To all the staff at Mangilaluk School and all the schools in Nunakput, keep up the good work. I thank the teachers and the parents.

On another good note, we had 108 kids over 80 percent attendance in Tuk that will be going to Inuvik for swimming day at the pool. That’s 108 kids. That’s awesome to see. I’d like to thank the

parents that keep pushing those kids to school even when it’s 40 below. I’d like to thank all the teachers in the Territory and the Minister as well.

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise in this House to recognize a special day. Albert Bohnet is 94; Febula Bohnet is 84. Today they have been married 66 years.

---Applause

She will always be the younger woman in his life.

The marriage started back in 1945. Just to give us a sense of scale and time, that was the last year of World War II. It’s a singular milestone.

Today they still live in their own home. They burn wood. They have a garden. Clearly a recipe for good health and a long life of love together is what they get as a result of their life together.

As we wish them well for the coming year and another year of togetherness and continued good health and happiness, I also have a wish for this Assembly that we may all be blessed with the love, health and longevity in our lives that they have shared in theirs.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I wish to recognize Pages here this week from the community of Sambaa Ke/Trout Lake. Also thanks to the principal, Lee Fillion, for being the chaperone. It’s an excellent program and I continue to support it. First here this week was Ms. Katrina Deneron. Second was Ms. Sheyenne Jumbo. I’m proud to say that Sheyenne is a young author. She had written a book in Trout Lake called Come Learn with Me. It sells at Amazon.com for $12.24. There are only two left.

---Applause

Hopefully they had a great week and really enjoyed it. Once again, it’s a good opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to bring children in from all our small and remote communities. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to take this opportunity and with pleasure to recognize Darrell Bohnet, one of the children of Al and Febula Bohnet, from Fort Smith originally. A good Metis boy. Many years with the government, vice-president with Diavik, now retired in Yellowknife. I’d like to thank him for coming to the Assembly. He’s lucky to have such parents as he does. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr, Miltenberger. Item 7, acknowledgements. Item 8, oral questions. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are to the Minister responsible for Human Resources. I want to follow up on an inquiry and a bit of correspondence with the Minister regarding greening the workplace under the June 2009 Human Resources action plan, A Brilliant North. This objective calls for encouragement to employees to develop and implement environmental programs. Can the Minister tell us what work has been done to date? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister responsible for Human Resources, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Greening the workplace is a very important initiative that this government undertook as part of its 20/20 human resource strategic planning. What we’ve accomplished is we’ve set up an interdepartmental advisory Green Team that meets on a regular basis. We have representation from the majority of the departments and they make recommendations to our deputy minister committee on a quarterly basis. The green advisory team has developed an action and terms of reference that they’re working on. Thank you.

I appreciate the comments from the Minister. Mr. Speaker, this is good work. It shows motivation on behalf of our employees and our leadership. We know that improving practices involves changing habits and human behaviour such as getting people to wear seat belts or stop cell phone driving, not an easy task; one of the most difficult things to change. Strong leadership is often needed. The Minister, according to my correspondence, has indicated that at least seven departments are signed on. That’s a good start. What more aggressive plans does the Minister have to roll this out across government beyond

Yellowknife and provide the marketing resources needed to give us a model workplace? Thank you.

Right now we’re focusing on our government. As well as having an advisory team we also have internal departmental teams, and I’m pleased to say that we have five interdepartmental teams that have undertaken a host of initiatives so that we’ll have a greener workplace and with the active participation of all of our employees. Thank you.

Again, good work. I understand that some of the work has included voluntarily setting printers to duplex, using recycled paper, having recycling stations in offices, in-house waste audits. ENR has a Green Event Catering Contract Policy for its departmental use. I’m wondering if this could be spread to all departments. I also note, Mr. Speaker, many people complain to me about GNWT catering that includes bottled water. They just shake their head when we’re surrounded by the best water in the world. Does this catering policy include the dropping out of bottled water? Thank you.

In addition to some of the activities that Mr. Bromley outlined, we have developed some other activities that I would like to note such as in-office composting, purchasing recycled bond paper, we’ve purchased bicycles for interoffice travel, also hybrid pilots. We also organize healthy lifestyle activities, we conduct in-house waste audits, have established recycling stations in every department, and we organize staff awareness contests. All of these activities play a role in improving our workplace and, certainly, with utilizing the deputy minister committee, we use that to make sure that it occurs in every department. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to note that these things and a lot of other common-place green behaviours sound to me like the least we should be doing in our departments and not really voluntary. The Human Resources department and Public Works and Services are best positioned to make these standard practices. Why are we leaving it up to employees to separately devise and implement the most basic practices of green office management? Can we get this in place as a standard that must be achieved?

It is our intention to implement a Green Procurement Policy within the department; as well, the GNWT event catering which will exclude bottled water. There are a number of locations in the city that are bottled water-free zones. As well, we are reviewing the department utility monitoring status and we hope to be able to report on that. I will have to check on the

status on whether the Legislative Assembly is a bottled water-free zone. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment. It is Education Week and clearly there are a lot of things affecting education in the Northwest Territories. One of them, in my opinion, is infrastructure. We’ve done a lot of great work with infrastructure but here in Yellowknife we’ve got a couple of the schools that need a little bit of work. They were on our capital plan once upon a time but they’ve both kind of disappeared. I’m wondering if the Minister can give me a bit of assurance that we’re going to see in the transition documents that the department is working on some attention put on Sissons School, which needs some significant renovation, as well as the back side of Mildred Hall, which needs some upgrading.

These renovations will save us money over the long term, money that we can roll into the actual education of our children. If I can get some comments from the Minister, that would be great.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. At one time these were part of the capital process, but due to other pressing issues we had to deal with… But as we move forward for next year’s capital planning process this could be part of the initiative that we need to bring forward along with other capital project initiatives. We’ve talked about the Sissons Schools and also Mildred Hall, completion of the Mildred Hall and different aspects.

Mr. Speaker, during the transition period we’ll be talking about what needs to be before the 17th Assembly, but it will be up to the 17th Assembly to

decide as we go forward, but this summer we’ll be discussing that capital planning process. Mahsi.

I appreciate the Minister’s response. I know that we’ve had a lot of conversation about Sissons and Mildred Hall and I’m happy to hear that it’s going to be in the transition documents. At least I think that’s what I heard. Can I get a little bit of confirmation that indeed this department will be putting a specific reference to Sissons’ renovations and the back side of Mildred Hall, the windows and whatnot, in the transition document? I know it will be the

responsibility of the 17th government, but I know

this department has done some work, has done some costing and had a conversation with the board. I want to make sure that that is built into the transition document so it’s highlighted as a priority coming into the 17th Assembly. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I did state that this will be part of the discussion that we need to have as we discuss all the capital projects for the Northwest Territories and we need to prioritize what needs to go in place for next year. Definitely, the Sissons School and Mildred Hall will be part of that discussion and we’ll keep the Members posted as we move forward. They will be part of the process as well. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In following up on my Member’s statement on absenteeism in the school, I have questions for the Minister of Education. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me if the department keeps stats on absenteeism and then uses those stats and if there is a correlation between achievement and/or the lack thereof in absenteeism? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We work through, and also are in consultation with, the school district education authority and also the council. We collect that data that are important for our educational system. We need to work closely with the school boards. They provide information on the absenteeism that the Member is referring to. The stats overall for the last few years, we do have them on file. Based on that, where we need to focus in certain areas. There have been some great achievements over the years and also there have been some lack of achievement over time. Those are the pros and cons we need to look at.

Mr. Speaker, yes, we do have that information and work closely with the education council in that respect. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me if there has been a reduction in absenteeism in the schools in small communities from year to year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I don’t have the detailed information before me now. I can get that information for the Member. I understand that there has been some improvement in absenteeism, because the school board has

developed initiatives to deal with absenteeism because it is a big issue in the small, isolated communities. We are currently discussing that with the various school boards across the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, was absenteeism contemplated when the department developed the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the absenteeism is a cross-function of the priorities that have been established through the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, whether it be the student support, the early childhood development, the literacy, the home support. So it does fall within those four categories. Every region that we visited, absenteeism was an issue and is a challenge. We are putting a strategic plan in action that is coming from the general public telling us, the educators, the parents, how we can deal with those issues and those matters at hand. They are giving us solutions from that. We are moving forward with this early this year. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Your final supplementary, Mr. Beaulieu.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell me roughly if he has some general objectives in the plan? Can he tell me what the plan is to address the absenteeism issue? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the solutions are still coming at us from the regional forums that we have initiated. We visited four regions already, including Yellowknife, and also two more upcoming, Beaufort-Delta and also South Slave where Mr. Beaulieu will be part of that process, as well, along with other MLAs. It is at the preliminary stages right now, but in due time, in May session we are hoping to table the document and that information will be available to the general public. There are a lot of solutions in that package that will come out of that. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During this Education Week I just want to raise one of the things that I have been consistent about for the community of Sambaa Ke, which is Trout Lake. They have always impressed upon me about the need to have a brand new school for the community. I raise it once again with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. How much planning has been done? Has he heard the community in working towards building a new school for Trout Lake? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We did hear from the community. I also work closely with the chair of the DEC as well. They have raised those issues in the past. We need to look at the overall schools in the Northwest Territories. Trout Lake is part of that process that we need to discuss. The situation it is in, the age of the building and the space of the building, this are information that we have been gathering. We will discuss it further as we move forward to the next year’s capital planning process. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, over the course of seven years we spent hundreds of millions of dollars in our larger communities building new schools. I think it is time to start concentrating on our small and remote communities, in Trout Lake. I think the capital planning process and the priorities of this government should start concentrating on the small, remote communities. Will the Minister work with his Cabinet colleagues and start investing in the small, remote communities and public infrastructure? Mahsi cho.

Mr. Speaker, I totally agree that we need to focus on all schools in the Northwest Territories. We will continue to push where the priorities lie. I agree that we need to focus on the communities that we represent. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, I think another thing that the community of Trout Lake needs, in order to get on the capital plan, is a full assessment and needs of that community. Is the Minister willing to at least work towards that in this fiscal year in the operating and maintenance funding? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, in the 2010-11 capital plan there has been funding that has been included to provide technical upgrades. We are just reporting program issues. It is a start for our department working with the community to address those space issues that Trout Lake is facing. We will be discussing further with the Member and also with the community DEA. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have always advised the Minister that the school in Trout Lake has never been replaced. They are currently existing in the community hall and the community has been promised by this government that they will replace the school. I look forward to the Minister to work with his Cabinet colleagues to make that a priority and make that dream come true for the community of Trout Lake. Mahsi cho.

Mr. Speaker, I too will continue to push for my colleagues on the

pressing matters that are before us with the capital plan projects. Trout Lake, I am looking forward to the community visits. I definitely will be visiting the school and see the outcome of our discussion at that point and stage. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Education in regards to my Member’s statement in regards to the importance of developing curriculum for the students in the Northwest Territories. It is something that is meaningful to the students. Like I mentioned, the Beaufort-Delta Divisional Board of Education along with the Gwich’in and Inuvialuit have developed language curriculum to deliver in the schools in the Beaufort-Delta. That is one way I believe we can develop curriculum that is useful to the students, and more importantly, preserve their language and culture. Mr. Speaker, I think we also have to go a step further in regards to looking at the northern history, the history of the Aboriginal people in northern Canada, and more importantly, looking at the rights of indigenous people in northern Canada and understand those rights. What is the Minister’s department doing to revamp the curriculum we have in our schools so it is meaningful for the students and relates to the Northwest Territories and its history and the people that live here? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I can’t agree more with the Member that we need to integrate our northern perspective into our curriculum development. We need to work closely with Alberta. It’s through their jurisdiction that we continue to work on the curriculum development, because a part of the education program is under their jurisdiction as well, the curriculum development. But with the Northern Studies and Social Studies we have made some changes. We’ve produced some textbooks that reflect the Northwest Territories, the geographic areas of the whole Northwest Territories and the routes and some plans as well, so identifying those key areas. So we have started the initial stages, but we want to produce more of those textbooks, do more program development and also curriculum development that reflects the northern perspective. Mahsi.

Thank you. I’d like to add to the Minister’s comments and I think it’s a question of

timing, and more importantly, it’s putting the resources into it. I noted, looking at our budget, that we’re putting a lot of money into French immersion, and more importantly, developing French programs and services in the Northwest Territories. But I think by making those investments, we’re losing sight of the most important component of that in the history of the Northwest Territories and indigenous people that live here and their history. I think one thing that I find, being in this House for almost 16 years, is that the uneducated public, which really doesn’t understand Aboriginal rights in the Northwest Territories or treaty rights and land claims rights that have been settled, regardless if it’s the old treaties or modern day treaties. That’s the stuff that we have to develop that’s useful and that people could be educated in and learn and really understand the issues in the Northwest Territories. So which arm of your department is doing the work to get this curriculum off the ground to get it into our classrooms?

Mahsi. It is our department that is responsible to deliver these programs into the schools. Again, I have to reiterate that we need to work with Alberta and also the DEAs and DECs having those initiatives. Not only that, but the Aboriginal student achievement that’s underway, they’ve discussed that as well, having a residential school era in our school system, land claims, self-government. We’re introducing to our social program development area within the curriculum. So we are listening to the people and those will be written out after this fiscal year. It will take some time, but we will make those initiatives key priorities for this government. Mahsi.

Thank you. It’s good to develop curriculum and whatnot and put it into the schools, but we have to make it mandatory that people will actually take the course, learn the course and get credits for those courses. What I’d like to know is will those courses, regardless if it’s Northern Studies, Aboriginal studies, that it be mandatory in all high schools in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

That will be the discussion we need to have. In the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, that’s been highlighted as well, that it be mandatory for the students to take those specific courses whether they be Aboriginal students or non-Aboriginal students. So those are discussions that we’re having, ongoing discussions. We still have two forums to attend and then the final package will reflect on that as well. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Your final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister to keep us abreast in regard to where this is going and give us updates whenever

possible. So I’d like to ask the Minister for ongoing updates on where the progress of this is going. Thank you.

Mahsi. I definitely will commit in this House to keep the Members up to speed on what’s happening with the ASA. We will be going to the Beaufort-Delta in May. So those are the discussions we’ll continue to have and conclude that discussion at that time. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Being Education Week I want to ask the Minister of Education a few questions regarding the Sahtu. Mr. Speaker, education, either you’re on the land, and my people always wanted to be successful even on the land. Now today in the new world of making a living we want to be successful.

Mr. Speaker, on the land we had an open university. In the Sahtu now we have Aurora College centres. I noted that many of our students are now leaving the Sahtu region for other centres for their educational careers. I want to ask the Minister, when he is talking with his colleagues about capital planning, if they would look at the possibility of some serious discussions around looking at the need for a Sahtu trades centre in the region. Would the Minister commit to that?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Let me first commend those students that are pursuing their higher education. We support those students 100 percent to fulfill their dream and come back successfully into our Sahtu region or other regions in the Northwest Territories. With this Sahtu trades centre, the Member had approached us a while ago and we are working on the key aspects of gathering information and we need to work with Aurora College in that respect as well. We’re talking about the community learning centres, as well, and combining those and how it would look. But we are working on that, gathering the information and seeing where it takes us from there. Mahsi.

Thank you. The Minister indicated that they are working on gathering information; and being quite familiar with the process of moving it through the stages to a vote for capital needs, that’s quite a distance away. So I want to ask the Minister when you are gathering information within the time frame of this government, would this continue to the next government in terms of having a clear picture on whether the Sahtu will receive some good news to

say that a Sahtu trades centre is coming down the tube and putting it in the books for some discussion in the House?

Mahsi. That is the information that we are gathering, the needs assessment of the community, a trades centre versus a community learning centre that we have currently. So it could be a part of the discussion on the upcoming capital planning, but it all depends on the information that we do receive and we’ll try to expedite the process along with other major capital projects that we may be faced with. So we’ll do what we can as a department to push this towards the capital planning process. Mahsi.

Thank you. Has the department looked at other avenues to support this initiative, or partnerships in the region or in the North to look at where some cost savings can be looked at? Because there are other needs also. I hear from Members that want to have institutions in the North also.

Mahsi. Any assistance the Member can provide, we’d really appreciate it and discussing a partnership approach has always been our push as the Government of the Northwest Territories, we’re always seeking out potential partners. So we will be seeking out what kind of capacities are out there with regards to partnerships. So those are discussions that are open for us as well. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Your final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister is certainly showing me a little love here in terms of putting this Sahtu trades centre. Would the Minister bring forward this discussion to the next Aurora College Board for serious discussion to look at a trades centre in the Sahtu in order to move it to the next step of putting it in the books?

I do believe there is a Board of Governors meeting coming up and the Sahtu has a representative on there. I’m sure that individual will bring that discussion forward. This will likely be the topic of discussion at that level.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have some questions today for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment going back to my Member’s statement when I talked about a stand-alone campus for Aurora College located here in Yellowknife.

Yesterday I was asking some questions of the Minister of Health and Social Services about

planning dollars and found out that there’s $900,000 in planning for Stanton. I’m wondering if Education has any planning money in the works for a new stand-alone campus for Aurora College here in Yellowknife.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. What I can tell the Member is that this is an area that we’ve been discussing for a number of years now. The lease is coming up as well. We need to plan for that this fall. The stand-alone campus we’ve been discussing with other jurisdictions as well, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut, and other jurisdictions about how we can move forward as a university of the North. We talk about the campus here and we talk about a university of the North building on the existing campuses.

This is an area that’s important for our department and we’ll continue to push forward. I will keep the Members up to speed on what’s been happening with our discussion. A recent discussion that I had just the other day I will provide that information to the Members as well.

The current space that the college utilizes at Northern United Place obviously isn’t conducive to a college campus. There’s no parking, there’s not enough room there. They obviously need a new building. I’d like to ask the Minister if there will be any planning dollars in the capital plan come this fall. I know there’s going to be an election in October, but I’d like to ask if there will be any planning dollars for this campus come the capital plan this fall.

That’s a discussion we need to have. I can’t stand here and say, yes, we’re going to commit dollars. We need to discuss further with the capital planning projects that will be before us. If we need to commit a certain amount of dollars towards the planning studies for the college campus, then we will do that. We need to discuss that further. At that point in time we need to highlight what the priorities are. This is one of the priorities we’ve been working towards, so we will be discussing it further if we need to allocate the funding at that time.

Obviously I think the planning dollars are going to be important to getting the government’s commitment to building a stand-alone college campus here in Yellowknife. Yesterday we found out there’s $900,000 in planning for Stanton. I’m thinking that’s coming from the capital plan that’s being developed by the government. If one Minister can say there is money, why can’t the other Minister say that there’s going to be some money? Where is the commitment in the capital plan that’s coming this fall to get planning dollars for

the Aurora College stand-alone campus here in Yellowknife? We need a commitment.

I’m fully committed to working towards the planning stages. We are at that point where we’re working towards the capital planning projects. I did indicate in this House that I’m committed to working towards that and identifying dollars. The planning stages are in play and the capital planning process will be before us this summer. We’ll move forward in this regard as a discussion and then see what comes out of that. If we need to allocate funding, then definitely we’ll talk about that at that time.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Justice. I’ll give him a little bit of a break from the education venue. Workplace harassment and workplace bullying are something which I think we are becoming more and more aware of. I think it’s existed for a very long time and is all too common. I think we are becoming more aware that employers do not necessarily treat their employees fairly.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Justice what legislation or regulations currently exist in the NWT to deal with workplace harassment or workplace bullying.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Within our Justice department we do have a Human Resource Policy that deals with the specifics of if there’s harassment in the work environment or if there’s verbal abuse and so forth. We do have those policies in place and work closely with the Human Resources department as well. Those policies do go through some changes, as well, that reflect up-to-date information we receive from the general public. We’ll continue to make those changes as necessary.

The Minister referenced a policy within the Department of Justice. My concern, I guess, is for employees outside of the GNWT. If someone in a private firm feels they are being harassed or bullied, what recourse do they have to try and make their workplace situation more tolerable?

Those are the areas that we continue to get complaints from various parties and we deal with them either through the employers or through our Justice department. The avenue they may have with respect to certain types of complaints that may be brought forward, it all depends on the case-by-case

basis. We need to work with those individuals as the need arises. Again it can be an interdepartmental initiative as well. Our Justice department is available to the general public if there are any issues pertaining to that and also with Human Resources.

Thanks to the Minister. I appreciate that information that the general public does have the opportunity to go to the Department of Justice for assistance. Several other provinces in Canada and the Canadian government itself have implemented, over the last five to six years, legislation which deals with workplace harassment and bullying. I’d like to ask the Minister whether that is something that this government might consider to either change an existing act or to bring in a new act that would deal with harassment and bullying in the workplace.

This particular area is not just our jurisdiction; it’s a national issue. Workplace and bullying harassment that’s happening within our work environment or outside our work environment. So there is a strategy in place at the national stages and we’re part of the discussion through the Justice department, whether it be the public safety, Education department as well. I will keep the Members posted on if there are going to be any changes or acts that are coming into play. We are looking at various options from other jurisdictions as well.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister. I guess I’m just not quite clear. I’d like to ask again, he mentions a national initiative. Is the Minister saying that nationally across the board all provinces and territories are working on something and that we are part of that? Because there are Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec who currently have their own legislation.

Each jurisdiction provides their own issues or challenges before two federal Ministers along with provincial and territorial Ministers. Saskatchewan and other jurisdictions have their own. We want to take advantage of that so we don't reinvent the wheel and see if they can fit into our judicial system as well, our justice system. Those are areas we are exploring. That’s what I was referring to, was that we bring our acts and legislation into play at the national stage and bring that information back so we can establish that type of system here in the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.