Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Lifelong learning, skills development, training, and employability are major priorities of the 18th Assembly, but progress in these areas has been difficult and slow. Government initiatives on junior kindergarten and school instructional hours have demanded a significant proportion of the department's and committees' limited time. The department's progress was continually challenged by funding shortfalls and poor, inconsistent communication.

The cost and availability of childcare is a growing concern, but the department is not on track to fulfill its commitment to a universal daycare action plan within two years, nor does its planning distinguish between childcare programming and the education system. Progress is being made to revitalize Aboriginal languages, yet funding for inclusive schooling and Aboriginal language and culture-based education has not been allocated for new junior kindergarten students. The committee has also repeatedly seen the divergence of the government's and Regular Members' vision of post-secondary education in the territory. Members have called for legislation to enable the establishment of a northern university, for which we continue to await a legislative proposal, and for a broad range of local academic and technical programs responsive to educational and labour market needs. In seeking to eliminate the Teacher Education and Social Work Diploma Programs at Aurora College, departmental initiatives have instead disregarded authoritative labour market forecasts and sought to narrow local course options and to close some community learning centres. This programming was preserved only through advocacy by Regular Members and public pressure.

However, some successes have resulted from collaboration and compromise. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment has lately been responsive to some, though not all, committee recommendations on junior kindergarten and school instructional hours. Government advocacy secured much-needed federal funds for the support and reservation of the territory's Aboriginal languages. Advocacy from Regular Members enhanced the existing Small Community Employment Support Program and reversed reductions to school staffing and Aurora College programming. Members also productively engaged the department on actions plans on Skills 4 Success, apprenticeships, and culture and heritage, and on the renewed Aboriginal languages framework, helping the government to move these projects forward. At this time, I would like to turn the report to the honourable Member from Yellowknife Centre. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.