Delivered on May 30, 2018

Mr. Speaker, expanding opportunities for postsecondary education for our residents is a priority of this Legislative Assembly. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is pursuing an ambitious postsecondary agenda that is guided by the mandate of this government.

Mr. Speaker, a strong labour market is critical to the Northwest Territories’ economic future. We know what jobs are in demand, and we are focused on preparing residents for those opportunities.

Through our Skills 4 Success actions, we are seeing progress in developing an educated, productive and thriving labour force that will meet the needs of the territory’s economy and meet our mandate commitment to improve labour market outcomes.

Delivered on May 25, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce the release of an Action Plan to support the 2017 NWT Aboriginal Languages Framework.

YELLOWKNIFE (MAY 24, 2018) — The first-ever Geoscience Field Assistant Training Program began last week in Yellowknife.

Eight participants, supported by eight employer sponsors have signed on to take the five-week, classroom-based course, to be followed by 160 hours of on-the-job training.  The Mine Training Society will offer wage subsidies of $21/hour to employers for the on-the-ground portion.

YELLOWKNIFE (May 22, 2018) - The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Caroline Cochrane, is announcing the resignation of the Aurora College President and the appointment of an Interim President.

After six years as President of Aurora College, Jane Arychuk has resigned from her position, effective May 31, 2018. 

YELLOWKNIFE (April 24, 2018) - The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Caroline Cochrane, and Miles Welsh, Chair of Yellowknife Catholic Schools, are pleased to announce the addition of three new modular classrooms and one washroom modular for École St. Joseph School. 

Delivered on March 7, 2018

Mr. Speaker, Indigenous language revitalization is a shared responsibility. Language revitalization is not something that can be done solely by schools. Rather, numerous stakeholders, including Elders, Indigenous and community governments, language groups and families must work together to see our nine Indigenous languages thrive.

Delivered on March 6, 2018

Mr. Speaker, we are continually reviewing and updating our income security programs to make sure they respond to the needs and realities of Northwest Territories residents. All program changes are made based on research and analysis, to ensure these programs are well managed and help residents across the North. 

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment increased the Northwest Territories Child Benefit in July 2017, and we raised the Senior Citizen Supplementary Benefit in September 2017.

Delivered on March 1, 2018

Mr. Speaker, the francophone community is a vibrant part of the multicultural mosaic of the Northwest Territories. As we move into the 20^th Rendez-vous de la Francophonie, from March 1^st to 21^st, we have some milestones to mark and events to celebrate.

Mr. Speaker, today is national Pink Shirt Day. Wearing pink today symbolizes that we, as a society, will not tolerate bullying of any kind. This day of recognition and action was started in 2007 by two young men in Nova Scotia, David Sheppard and Travis Price. As an act of protest and support, they gave pink shirts to their fellow students, after a grade 9 student was bullied for wearing a pink shirt to school.