This is page numbers 4923 – 4960 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was communities.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Replacement Of Fort Simpson Health Centre
Members’ Statements

October 22nd, 2014

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. The Fort Simpson Health Centre provides a range of health services to the residents of Nahendeh and the Deh Cho region. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, the existing facility requires replacement to adequately provide these services. There is an engineering report by Public Works and Services that shows that this infrastructure is aging, has structural deficiencies and is over 30 years old.

Serious consideration for replacement was discussed by the Department of Health and Social Services. It was even unofficially slated to be replaced by a new facility…

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Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

…means that it is classified as very important but is nowhere on the capital plan, even in the long term. The health centre staff and the residents of Nahendeh need answers. Where and when will this facility be built?

Quality health care services are being compromised by the lack of appropriate workspace with current health standards to deliver these services.

I urge the Minister of Health and Social Services to ensure that the Fort Simpson Health Centre replacement is funded and in the capital plan. The future health of our residents rests with the decision of this government.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my statement is on Junior Kindergarten, much like my colleague Mrs. Groenewegen. Many people in the small communities, and in the larger communities, as well, feel that this government has rushed in to implement the Junior Kindergarten initiative without first reviewing the pilot projects that happened last year in the small communities. To make things worse, the student/teacher ratio was also changed just last year from 8 to 1 to now 16 to 1. We also have a number of challenges with lack of resources and funding. This year all that was given to the schools to implement this was $15,000, and if you didn’t implement it this year, next year you won’t get anything. There is also a shortage of staff.

In Fort McPherson, for example, we have 14 junior kindergarten and 14 kindergarten students. Can you imagine taking on 28 small children in one classroom without any assistants?

There are also concerns of training in the field of early childhood development. Kindergarten teachers are not required to have early childhood development training.

I’ll have questions for the Minister later today.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Lafferty.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi Mr. Speaker. I’d like to welcome to our gallery, through you, Mr. Speaker, Meagan Wowk, ECE early childhood and kindergarten coordinator who is here with us today. Also, Dr. Magdalena Janus is also here with us.

She is the co-creator of the EDI program from the Offord Centre for Child Studies and is training the junior kindergarten teachers on how to use the Early Development Instrument.

There are also teachers that are here with us from each of the communities offering Junior Kindergarten, except from the South Slave DEC where all their JK teachers are already trained to use the EDI. The teachers who are here with us are as follows: first is Silene Hebert, Nancy Noseworthy, Wanda Quigg, Genive – aka “Genny” – Di Bernardo, Robin Hatfield, Matthew Baetz, Christal Doherty, Elise Decarie-Jean, Angela Young, Theresa Hartley, Jennifer Thompson, Georgina Emaghok, Julie Donahue, Jennifer Russell, Nora Sargent, Alanna Duffy, Sandra Ipana, Lafi Schuck, Teresite Rodnunsky, Clara Redvers, Alicia Camille, Arlene Cliff-Philips, Melanie Switzer, Christianne Bezanson, Emme Landry, Victoria Budgell and Crystal Cockney. Thank you for being here with us. Mahsi.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. McLeod.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to use this opportunity to recognize a couple of hardworking Pages from Inuvik Twin Lakes. I’ve got Ms. Tyra Cockney-Goose, who’s sitting over there by the deputy Sergeant-at-Arms, and I’ve got Julienne Chipesia. She’s just on the other side of the glass there. I’d like to thank them and all the other Pages for all the work they do throughout our time in session.

I’d also like to recognize two residents of Inuvik. They are constituents of Boot Lake, but I got up first, so I get to recognize them. We have Ms. Angela Young and Sandra Ipana. Thank you very much. Welcome to the Assembly.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Ramsay.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize today the chief coroner of the Northwest Territories, Ms. Cathy Menard. Also with Ms. Menard we have other coroners from Yellowknife, Garth Eggenberger, Wendy Eggenberger, Nicole Latour, Ruth McLean and Adelle Guigon. I’d like to say thank you very much for the hard work that you do in performing your duties as coroners here in the Northwest Territories.

I also want to recognize all the educators we have with us today in the gallery. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Mr. Kevin Wallington for all the hard work he put in on developing the egg market here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Colleagues, before we go on today, I’d also like to recognize Ms. Nicole Latour, who is nominated to fill the office of the Chief Electoral Officer effective

November 1st . Welcome to the House, Ms. Latour.

Ms. Bisaro.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to recognize the educators up behind me and the group of coroners who are here and welcome them to the House. I’d like to specifically mention Mr. Garth Eggenberger, a resident of Frame Lake, and if I’ve missed any other residents of Frame Lake, my apologies, and welcome.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Bouchard.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a constituent, Mr. Kevin Wallington. As I spoke of small businesses, he is a small business operator, Polar Eggs. I’d also like to acknowledge a couple of other people in the gallery, Mr. Garth Eggenberger, a good friend, also a business owner; and former Hay River resident Nicole Latour. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. Mr. Moses.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d just like to recognize and welcome Ms. Angela Young and Sandra Ipana as well as all the other educators joining us today. Thank you for all the hard work in the communities. I’d also like to recognize Cathy Menard. I’ve had a lot of really good conversations with her since being in the job. As well, I’d like to recognize all the other coroners joining her here today. I’d just like to thank them for their dedication and their devotion to residents of the Northwest Territories. I’d also like to thank and recognize the Pages for all their hard work that they did for us Members this week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Mr. Menicoche.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was pleased to hear Ms. Nancy Noseworthy’s name mentioned. She’s a resident of Fort Simpson. Welcome to the gallery. I hope you’re enjoying yourself here this week. Mahsi cho. Great to see you.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

I’d like to welcome my constituents George Amok and I’m bad with names for the other two people who came from Tuk. I’m sorry, but welcome to the House. Angela, it’s always good to see you here. Ms. Sandra Ipana too. When I was going to Grollier Hall in Inuvik, her and her husband, Roy, took really good care of us. I’ll always remember that. Thank you so much for being here today. Educators, thank you for doing what you’re doing for the youth of our territory. Thank you.

Item 7, acknowledgements. Item 8, oral questions. Mr. Blake.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned, I have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Last year the communities that took on Junior Kindergarten received about $45,000 each to implement that. Why are the schools only getting $15,000 today? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. When we first initiated our discussion through the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, the early learning was a priority as part of that discussion during that engagement. That’s how we came about delivering Junior Kindergarten in 23 of our small communities. What the Member is referring to is $15,000 in one-time funding for every classroom to purchase play-based programming, so we need some sort of equipment such as a new play base, developmentally appropriate JK equipment such as mats, water and sand tables and educational tools. But there are also other investments as well.

The proposed plan is $360,000 for necessary infrastructure that we need to do some of this infrastructure into the school system and others as well. Those are just some of the areas that we will continue to invest in for our communities. Mahsi.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

I agree with the Minister that early childhood is needed. Many of the communities, as Mrs. Groenewegen mentioned, already do programming for the smaller children from three to five. In the smaller communities I can agree that these are needed. For example, in Tsiigehtchic, which was one of the pilot projects last year, we don’t have daycares or early childhood programming in the communities, and that’s where I believe that those communities should be implementing Junior Kindergarten.

Will the Minister ensure that his department re-evaluates this program in the coming year? Thank you.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi. I’m glad the Member raised the profile where 10 communities are without licenced early childhood programming. It is true; we’re providing options for the parents to have access to this different programming. There are also other programs such as Head Start and other early learning programming in our communities and in our schools.

At the same time, with any new programming, any new implementation or rolling out of various programs, there’s always a re-evaluation of our situation a year after, two years.

This is a three-year phased approach and every year, obviously, we will be re-evaluating our stance, pros and cons, what we’ve experienced, where we can improve in certain areas. Those are discussions that we will have with the school boards, the DECs and DEAs as well. Mahsi.