Thank you, committee. Page 80, education authorities, programs and services, active positions, information item. Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m just noticing that there’s a decrease in the Beaufort-Delta Divisional Education Council of six positions. Can I get an idea of what’s going on there? Why are we losing positions with the education council? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Every year we go through these changes. It’s all based on FTEs, enrollment total and if that changes then obviously the budget changes and that reflects on the total enrollment. Mahsi.

Can I get a breakdown of which communities are being affected with loss of positions? Thank you.

Mahsi. It’s not actually positions. It’s full-time equivalency. If the enrollment is down it goes back to the school boards and they decide where. It’s up to the school boards to decide how many teachers or janitors or teacher assistants to be hired. So, it’s based on the actual overall budget that we provide to them. Maybe if I can get my deputy to elaborate a bit more because she’s involved with the FTEs and enrollment. When the enrollment numbers go down, my team has to work with all the school boards. Mahsi.

Thank you, Minister Lafferty. Ms. Eggenhofer.

Thank you, Ms. Eggenhofer. Committee, again, we’re on page 80, education authorities, programs and services, active positions, information item. Any questions?

Thank you, committee. Page 81, Aurora College, programs and services, information item. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Quick question here. Members and committee have asked the Minister a number of times if we could have a bigger involvement in Aurora College and in knowing about what they’re doing with their budget. I believe we were advised, I believe the college budget came out in the fall, November or December perhaps. I would like to ask the Minister if a copy of that budget could be provided to Members. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Most definitely we can provide that information. Mahsi.

Thank you, Minister Lafferty. Committee, we’re on page 81, Aurora College, programs and services, information item. Any questions?

Thank you, committee. Page 82, lease commitments, information item. Any questions?

Page 83, work performed on behalf of others, information item. Any questions? Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I see that Right from the Start for our early childhood development programs, funding is being provided by Chevron – Chevron – to purchase the materials required to fulfil the commitments the department has in early childhood education. I would like to ask, why is the department going to a multi-national fossil fuel company, an industry that is at the greatest foundation threat to civilization ever, for money?

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. When we first talked about iPads for new parents, we sought out potential investors, key partners on this very important matter. There was a request by Chevron. The funding is available to purchase iPads. It’s not only Chevron. We have done this with others from the private sector, the business sector, as well, over the years. My view is that it’s an investment into our overall educational system where there are key partners.

As the Minister of Finance stated, our financial situation now is very tight within our overall territorial budget and we have to explore these areas of opportunity. So, Mr. Chair, we are in the process of having all these iPads at the end of this month be distributed to the parents, the new parents, so they have access to the different programs. In the fall of this year, the remaining iPads will be distributed to all parents, the new parents. It is an investment from the corporate sector, similar to what we have done with Rio Tinto, BHP and others that we have partnered with over the years. This is nothing new that we are exploring. There will be others, as well, down the road. We are always open to these types of investments so we can have very important initiatives on the way into the communities. Mahsi.

What is the investment from this multi-national company that’s partly responsible for the greatest threat to civilization that we are choosing to partnership with, this public government is choosing to partner with? What are the contributions that we are on our knees for, despite our responsibility to fund these programs from tax dollars for our public this year and next?