YELLOWKNIFE (April 4, 2013) – Minister of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) Jackson Lafferty  announced the launch of an expanded and improved departmental website today.

YELLOWKNIFE (March 26, 2013) – The second Aboriginal Languages Symposium wrapped up last week in Yellowknife. Nearly two hundred delegates from across the Northwest Territories, representing all nine Aboriginal language groups, attended the two-day gathering.

(March 13, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, our Income Security programs provide support for those residents over the age of 19 and their families.  It covers basic food, shelter and clothing needs, childcare benefits, heating subsidies, income support, and student financial assistance.  It also provides supports for disabled residents.

(March 11, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, the Education Renewal and Innovation initiative is examining a wide range of issues facing education in the NWT, and developing a comprehensive plan to address these. The development of this plan and many aspects of the plan itself will involve participation of other GNWT departments.  I am happy to report that a wide range of GNWT departments have dedicated staff to participating in this process. The plan itself is scheduled to be completed by this late fall/winter.

YELLOWKNIFE (March 6, 2013) – March is Aboriginal Languages Month and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) will be using some innovative  technology to deliver important messages to youth and residents across the territory.

(March 5, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment continues to improve its Income Security programs to ensure that residents of the Northwest Territories receive the support they need to tackle barriers they face to enter the workforce and meet their financial needs.

YELLOWKNIFE (March 4, 2013) – The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) is accepting nominations for the 2013 Education Hall of Fame. Seven individuals or groups will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, including one from each region and one Minister’s Choice inductee.

(March 4, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, Aboriginal languages are important pillars of our Northwest Territories society – they create a strong sense of identity and belonging, and we must actively work with our language communities to ensure our youth identify themselves as language and cultural ambassadors.

(February 27, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, today is the official Anti-Bullying Day, a day celebrated during the last Wednesday of February of each year. I am pleased we are wearing pink carnations today, marking a day of protest against bullying. This action was started by two brave young men in Nova Scotia, David Shepherd and Travis Price, who gave away 50 pink shirts after a grade 9 student was bullied for wearing a pink shirt to school.

(February 21, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is committed to providing quality education opportunities for all residents of the Northwest Territories.  Healthy, educated people are the backbone of a strong and prosperous society, and a goal of this Assembly.