Education leaders in the NWT recently met with Minister R.J. Simpson for their final meeting of the 2022-2023 school year.
Minister Simpson opened the in-person meeting with updates on ECE initiatives, including a presentation from a delegate with the Minister’s Youth Forum on Education. Vincent Gagne, a student from École Allain St-Cyr, presented a pitch he developed to create a French Association for youth across the NWT.
The Deputy Minister of ECE provided an update on legislation in the works, including amendments to the Official Languages Act, which received approval in March. The Child Day Care Act amendments came into force in May, and the Minister and education leaders discussed the potential of education bodies working with licensed Early Learning and Child Care programs to explore delivering programs directly in schools and/or other locations.
Modernizing the Education Act is also still in progress; the first phase of amendments, proposed in Bill 81, are undergoing Standing Committee review and there are opportunities for public feedback. Education bodies were assured that, should the Bill receive assent, any later development of regulations will be made in consultation with them.
Health and Social Services Minister Julie Green joined Minister Simpson to provide education leaders with a joint update on the Child and Youth Counselling (CYC) program. The GNWT has been reviewing the initiative to ensure mental health and wellness programs and services are meeting the needs of all NWT students, youth and families. The GNWT will provide updates to education bodies and Health and Social Services staff on any proposed changes to the initiative going forward.
As this will be the last meeting of education body leaders and Minister Simpson during the 19th Legislative Assembly, leaders also shared key education issues to inform the next government.
