Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided] As we know, some small communities already have [English translation not provided]. With current enrolment the people to teacher ratio is 13.3:1, but ECE intends to fund schools to a ratio of 12:1.
There are still several lingering issues, some of which have been brought up by my colleagues. I'll highlight three themes.
First, government-to-government relationships. When ECE moved to include JK students at Chief Sunrise School in the Hay River Reserve, the chief and council were not consulted. Later the Minister met with staff from the local DEA and from the Aboriginal Head Start program, but again did not involve the chief and council.
This is not appropriate, Mr. Speaker. At all times, protocols of consultation and consent must be respected. There are legal precedents that set protocols for consultations.
Second, resources. [Translation begins] We talk about the money and they said if we work on it enough then there will be money there for them, but we're not sure. For me, it's Chief Sunrise School. I think about them. On Monday the Minister of junior kindergarten said if there's money there then in the fall time we might find out, he said, but how much money they're talking about, the teachers, how much they need to work with them, maybe until the end of March, he said. So more than that, the young children, when they're going to school, they have to be bused to this school, too. We don’t know what's going to happen with that. [Translation ends]
Third, small community solutions. While JK is working well and welcome in some communities, that doesn't mean it's right for others. At a constituency meetings in Fort Providence I was told in no uncertain terms that JK should be stopped. There, residents value the strong relationship between the Aboriginal Head Start program and their community. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Mahsi.
---Unanimous consent granted