Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It is often said that children and youth make for a smart investment, and that the best way to effect change is by educating our young people.

Over the years, we've seen the Department of Education, Culture and Employment shift directions and invest more resources towards achieving better student outcomes. as evidenced by a school attendance advertising campaign, the Strengthening Teacher Instructional Practices initiative, junior kindergarten, more counsellors in schools, and. most recently, proposed legislation that could lead to the establishment of a polytechnic university for the NWT.

While it's great to see these changes, Mr. Speaker, more is required. Specifically, I want to raise the concern I've heard from communities in my region over the decline of school enrolment and attendance rates.

Mr. Speaker, attendance rates in small communities continue to be far below than in larger communities like Yellowknife. In 2008, the average attendance in small communities was 83 percent, compared with 91 percent in Yellowknife and 84 percent in regional centres. In 2013, average attendance was down to 79 percent in small communities, while it averaged over 88 percent in Yellowknife and 82 percent in the regions. Average attendance rates last year showed a drop across the NWT other than in Yellowknife.

Students in small communities averaged only 75 percent attendance in 2018, while the average was 89 percent in Yellowknife and 79 percent in the regions. These low attendance rates, combined with other realities, like the need for many students to upgrade post-graduation in order to pursue post-secondary education, tell me that we are not doing an adequate job of preparing our youth for the challenges that life brings. On top of this, I am hearing that low attendance could affect a school's funding, which could result in the school seeing a reduction in teachers or fewer extracurricular activities for students.

Mr. Speaker, if we don't invest in our young people meaningfully and sustainably and provide them with adequate opportunities, problems like low graduation rates, poor labour market entry, substance abuse, crime, violence, and risky behaviours will continue to rise, and there will be a significant economic and social cost. This need for investment includes finding effective long-term ways to maintain student enrolment and to encourage students to attend school every day, fully engaged in their learning and motivated to succeed. I will have questions for the Minister of ECE at the appropriate time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.