Mr. Speaker, this Government is committed to finding new ways to make it easier for NWT residents to acquire the skills and training they need to get good jobs and to connect employers to trained and qualified employees. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment plays a key role in this by focusing on fostering lifelong learning, skills development, training, and employability. That includes expanding opportunities for trades-oriented learning, while also enhancing our communications, service delivery, and way of doing business.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, I committed to reviewing the 2008 Ministerial Directive – Enrolment of Students in French First Language Programs. In conducting our review, we undertook a comprehensive engagement process targeting the rights holder population in the North. A total of 140 people responded either to our survey, attended a session in Hay River, or attended a session in Yellowknife. We reviewed legislation, current GNWT policies, and the responses from the stakeholder engagements and survey and conducted a jurisdictional scan.

YELLOWKNIFE (September 27, 2016) – The public is invited to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the Northwest Territories Pavilion at Expo 86.

The NWT pavilion at Expo 86 showcased the culture of our territory on an international stage. Hundreds of northerners were involved in making it one of the most popular pavilions, attracting over 1.5 million visitors.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to advise this House that a ceremony was held earlier today to celebrate seven individuals who have made tremendous contributions to education in the Northwest Territories.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment launched the Education Hall of Fame in 2010 to recognize the many Northerners that play an important role in supporting the education of our children.  It reflects the valuable contributions made by various educators, volunteers, board members, administrators and other community members across the territory. 

Mr. Speaker, in education, our greatest successes are seeing the faces of students realizing that they have accomplished something remarkable. To see a student graduate with pride in their achievements, surrounded by their families, friends and communities is one of the focuses of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, and a priority of this Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment provides many critical programs and services for some of the territory’s most vulnerable residents through its Income Security programs. Through our ongoing efforts to continually improve these programs, I’d like to share with you today a significant change to the way we will be supporting families with children.   

Yellowknife, le 16 juin 2016 – Le gouvernement des Territoires du Nord-Ouest (GTNO) est heureux d’annoncer que des fonds seront mis à la disposition des groupes communautaires qui parrainent des familles de réfugiés syriens se relogeant aux Territoires du Nord-Ouest (TNO).

Dans un effort continu d’aide et de soutien, le GTNO s’est engagé à verser 90 000 $ aux groupes communautaires qui accueillent des familles syriennes aux TNO. Chaque groupe pourra demander jusqu’à 15 000 $ en financement d’ici la fin septembre 2016.

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Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to take steps to close the skills gap using the Skills 4 Success strategic framework.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories understands the importance of early childhood development, and has been focused on developing and implementing programs and services for families with young children for the past few years.  Healthy development during the first few years of life is crucial for lifelong success.

I would like to share today some of the positive funding changes we are making in early childhood development.

Yellowknife, le 20 mai 2016 – Le premier ministre Bob McLeod a annoncé aujourd’hui les changements suivants à la haute direction de la fonction publique ténoise :