Thank you, Mr. Devitt. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know that our Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative also addresses attendance. First of all, I had asked for the breakdown if it was attendance or else reduction in enrolment. Was the department able to clearly answer that question? Because the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative was supposed to address attendance and getting our students back into the schools. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. For that question for the attendance, we’ll go to Mr. Lafferty.

Mr. Chair, my understanding is that it is a combination, but at the same time, the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative is at the early stages. We’ve rolled out a couple programs. One is to deal with attendance. The other one is cultural orientation as mandatory. But others are coming along. It doesn’t really reflect on this yet, but some of the schools have seen an increase just last year as well. We’ll continue to work with this on ASA. All the parties are involved in these discussions as well. The DEAs are involved and are signatories to the ASA Initiative. Our goal is to improve and increase enrolment over the next few years. That is the overall plan. Mahsi.

I’ll certainly look to the ASA Initiative to track it properly and then do a good assessment, because I know that in our schools in the smaller communities, especially at the district, you see the loss of four positions, but a 0.5 position is a huge decrease in the very, very small communities at a time when we look to our education system and want to utilize as many teachers as we can. Having a reduction, even though it’s based on formula, it still impacts our

school. I look forward to the progress of the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. That is more of a comment. We will move on to Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I note three here that the Yellowknife District No. 1 has been covering for K’alemi Dene School in my community of Ndilo in Weledeh. I know that that community is interested in activating their education authority which they have chosen in the past and they have covered by Yellowknife District No. 1. I would like to get an update from the Minister on whether or not that will be happening this year and where we are at in discussions on that.

Minister Lafferty.

Mr. Chair, my understanding is that there have been discussions to that degree with the district education authority. There have been a lot of talks in making some changes when it comes to K’alemi Dene School in Ndilo having their own DEA. Those are discussions that we have been having. I believe there is a community survey that did occur that was provided to our attention. We consulted with other DEAs in Yellowknife, as well, especially with YK 1. We can provide more information to the Members. Mahsi.

Mr. Chair, I appreciate that information. Has there been a decision yet to reinstate that authority to Ndilo? Is it just a matter of when and figuring out the funding? Where are we at on that? Thank you.

Mr. Chair, I do remember signing a document, but I have to confirm that with the Members. I will be getting back to the Members on the actual status on our last discussions that we have had. We were getting close to the final stages of signing on, but I have to confirm that with the Members. Mahsi.

Mr. Chair, I look forward to that update. Just more general backing off to a bigger picture here, are our educational authorities consistently within budget from year to year? I know, for example, in some of our health authorities there, they are very challenged and they end up with some annual deficits. Could I get a little update on how the education authorities work fiscally? Thank you.

Mr. Chair, we have been fortunate that we haven’t seen much of a deficit within education district authorities. Yes, I realize that health and social services is a very challenging area and that they have been in deficit every now and then. Again, we have been fortunate that we haven’t encountered a substantial deficit in this area. That is being closely monitored by my department, working closely with the district education authority and the district education

council as well. We will continue to address those matters. Every time we meet as board chairs, we discuss this. We will continue to do so. Mahsi.

Mr. Chair, thank you for that information. That is good news, indeed. I am assuming that if there are deficits in one, they might be covered by another. I guess I am interested in this. I won’t belabour it here, though, but I would like, from the Minister, a bit of an update, say for the last fiscal year, just as an example on how we handle evening out those things, dealing with the rare deficit that might occur, just to know there is a mechanism in place and how it works. That is all. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We can definitely provide the information on the process, if there is a deficit, how we balance that within the DEA and DEC. By all means, we will provide more information on that. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Committee, we are on page 10-33. Education, Culture and Employment, information item, details of funding allocated to education authorities. Are there any questions? Being none, page 10-34, Education, Culture and Employment, information item, education authorities, active positions. Are there any questions? Being none, page 10-36, Education, Culture and Employment, information item, Aurora College Program. Are there any questions? Being none, page 10-37, Education, Culture and Employment, information item, Aurora College funding allocation. Are there any questions? Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have just a question. There is an increase of it looks like $200,000 or so. It is for buildings and works, from what I can tell. Could I get an explanation as to what that money is going to be used for? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Devitt.

Page 10-37, Education, Culture and Employment, information item, Aurora College funding allocation. Any more further questions? Being none, page 10-38, Education, Culture and Employment, information item, work performed on behalf of others. Are there any questions? Being none, page 10-39, Education, Culture and Employment. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a question here in regard to the Nunavut-NWT agreement for museum and archives collection. We are spending, I presume from here, $190,000. I

wondered where the revenue shows up. I presume Nunavut is paying us for this service. I didn’t see it on the revenue page, I think page 9 of the document. It didn’t show it to me. Could I find out where it is shown? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Devitt.