February is Indigenous Languages Month in the Northwest Territories (NWT), and the theme of this year’s celebration is “Say It With Me.”
Indigenous Languages Month is a chance for people across the territory to promote the nine official NWT Indigenous languages and honour the Elders, teachers and language leaders who are working to revitalize Indigenous languages in their communities.
Mr. Speaker, I stand in this House today to celebrate the nine official Indigenous languages of the Northwest Territories. How incredible that we have nine official Indigenous languages, unlike any other jurisdiction in Canada. Our languages are gifts to be protected, strengthened, valued and promoted.
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.
