It was another proud moment for Northerners last week in Ottawa, as Minister Chinna presented the Arctic Inspiration Prize to Northern Compass.
The Arctic Inspiration Prize recognizes and promotes the contribution made by teams who have dedicated their time to projects that serve the Canadian Arctic, the people and Canada as a whole.
The GNWT Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) has released its first five-year evaluation report on the Education Renewal and Innovation (ERI) initiative for junior kindergarten (JK) to grade 12 education in the Northwest Territories (NWT).
Check Against Delivery
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Report of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada was tabled on the audit of Early Childhood and the Kindergarten to Grade 12 education system in the Northwest Territories. The Report focused on five areas: Inclusive schooling; Indigenous language and culture-based education; equitable access to quality education; programming, staff qualifications, and training in licensed early childhood programs; and how these areas worked to support student outcomes.
Elected education leaders from across the Northwest Territories met this week for the first time with R.J. Simpson, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, to discuss their joint work to further strengthen the territory’s Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 education system.
The Government of the Northwest Territories is introducing amendments to the NWT Employment Standards Act and Regulations that provide new and enhanced types of employment leave and will be effective as of January 01, 2020.
These Amendments align with the Government of Canada’s amendments to the Employment Insurance program and the Canada Labour Code, and let workers take advantage of the federal leave allowances and associated benefits while providing recognized and consistent guidelines for employers to better support their employees during important life events.
Mr. Speaker, our greatest Northern resource is our people and it is our responsibility to invest in and take steps to ensure their health and well-being.
On January 1, 2020, Northwest Territories residents will be able to access new and enhanced types of employment leave to protect their jobs when faced with important or challenging moments in life.
Mr. Speaker, The transformation of Aurora College into a polytechnic university is a priority of this Legislative Assembly and I am pleased to say that we continue to make progress.
To be successful, we must focus investments in programs and services that lead to better education and employment outcomes for residents, including through our post-secondary education system.
R. J. Simpson, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, addressed the inaugural meeting of the Aurora College Transformation Academic Advisory Council (Academic Advisory Council) earlier today. The Academic Advisory Council was created to support and advise the Associate Deputy Minister of Post-Secondary Education Renewal during the transformation of Aurora College to a polytechnic university.
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Good evening.
It’s a pleasure to be here this evening at the Dominion Diamond Blue Collar Gala to celebrate trades professionals in our territory and support Skills Canada NWT.
I am also pleased that I have the opportunity to speak to you this evening on behalf of the Premier of Northwest Territories, Caroline Cochrane.
Mr. Speaker, this Government is committed to ensuring that the people of the Northwest Territories have access to a wealth of high-quality post-secondary education opportunities. Educated citizens are critical to a healthy northern society and a strong and prosperous economy. Our Government is acting on the 18th Assembly’s Mandate priorities to expand opportunities for post-secondary education, trades-oriented learning and northern educational institutions and to foster the knowledge economy.
