Like I mentioned earlier, I do know there are programs out there, but in some of the communities and regional centres specifically, there is not enough infrastructure to house the number of youth that we’re getting that need those programs. Moving forth with his Minister’s statement last week, he did mention that one of his priorities were Aboriginal language and culture. However, there’s nothing stating here in his next steps about increasing our Aboriginal and northern teachers within the Northwest Territories. As you know, we do have a high transition of workers in the Northwest Territories. I wonder what is his plan to create jobs in the Northwest Territories for Aboriginal and northern people.

We do know there are programs out there and we do know that it is a priority for the government and within the Department of ECE. My question specifically was what programs are in place for communities that don’t have those programs and communities that need those facilities. What are the action steps that the Department of ECE is going to take within the next two years to make sure that those infrastructures are put in place so that people in our communities and children can succeed? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. They deal with his Minister’s statement on Friday dealing with the Aboriginal Student Achievement update. He set out four priorities, and my question is dealing with the early childhood and child care priority that he has put into his priorities for the ASA achievement.

What’s currently in place that he can provide us information on for early childhood and development programs throughout the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Going on to my colleagues’ comments, it’s not very often that we do get a lot of youth of this magnitude in the House, into the gallery. I’d like to recognize all the

students from Ulukhaktok. Welcome to Yellowknife. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.

I, too, want to thank Patrick Joss. He’s a very committed volunteer and community leader in his community, not only Ulukhaktok but throughout the Beaufort-Delta region. He has helped out in a lot of things. Welcome to all the students.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to make reference back to the Caucus priorities set forth by the 17th Legislative Assembly.

One component that I personally thought was missing was the component to honour our youth, and, actually, it is really great to see a strong contingent of youth in our gallery today. I would like to take this opportunity just to reassure the youth of the Northwest Territories, and reassure all those organizations that do great work with youth in the Northwest Territories that it is on our agenda within certain departments, as you heard today in the Minister’s statements by ECE and MACA, that we do have an invested interest in our youth and all the programs that are set forth throughout the year that I have been happy and very lucky to be a part of over the last couple of years working with MACA.

On that note, I would like to congratulate all the staff and hard workers of the Northwest Territories that work in sport, youth and volunteer programs throughout the Northwest Territories that put invested time and interest into our youth, that the GNWT is behind them and that we are going to be working with them. Such programs as, for instance here at the Ledge, we have the Page Program, which is very successful; and Northern Youth Ambassadors Program, which gives youth an opportunity to travel throughout Canada and internationally; and one of the more successful programs is the Youth Ambassadors Program, which has been very successful since its initiation into the NWT and through Municipal and Community Affairs.

I would just like to take this opportunity to let the youth know that we do stand behind them and that they are our future, and that when we invest in our youth, we are investing in our future that is going to create a new generation of healthy, educated adults as well as our future leaders of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

No further questions. I just think it would be in the best interest of both departments to work together on how we can serve, especially with a lot of the discussions earlier today on mental health and addictions, how we incarcerate a lot of people into the systems. That when we do build facilities, we offer buildings that offer services that would cut down our costs that can go into other areas. Just a general comment.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I had one quick question. When it comes to building capital projects such as infrastructure like the jails that

we’re going to house people in, do you ever do any consulting with other departments, such as the Department of Health, to work on treatment centres, as well, or transition phase components to that building, rather than work on putting two infrastructures in a community? It would be better money and cost effective to have the same water and sewage system put into one building where on one side would be a transition back into society or partly working with a treatment centre. So when buildings like this go up, we can actually add on to infrastructure and cut down on costs for other capital projects in years to come. Does the Department of Justice, when they do look at buildings like this, consult with other departments on how they can better serve people of the North than the spending of dollars that this government does?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just one last further question here. The Department of Health and Social Services, there are programs out there with other departments that make it so people have to go through the process, go through the counseling to get assistance; specifically, Housing, ECE and some Justice for rehabilitation. However, some of those people that are going through it don’t necessarily take it serious or are making the backlog for the people that really do need it. Is the Minister of Health and Social Services willing to come up with a plan to offset those issues so that the people in the Northwest Territories who really need these programs can get access to them, working with the departments of Housing, ECE and Justice? Is he willing to sit down with them to come up with a strategic plan, an action plan, should I say? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That’s all great for the communities that do have vacancies, but like I said, for communities that don’t have vacancies and they are already fully staffed, they are getting overload from some of the communities, especially Inuvik. They get referrals into the region and they’re getting overworked. Long days and, as a result, like I said, we are getting people that are on the backlog for three months to receive the services.

What’s the plan for the communities that do have full staff but are overworked? That needs to be addressed because we’re neglecting the people that are needing those services. Thank you.