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Legislative Assembly briefs MLA insists schools be replaced Galit Rodan Northern News Services Published Monday, February 20, 2012
According to a capital needs assessment by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, work to replace the Charles Yohin School in Nahanni Butte should begin in 2016-17, while work to replace the Charles Tetcho School in Trout Lake should begin in 2018-19. "Every year we wait for new schools we risk the future success of our youth. I don't believe that's a risk we can afford to make," Menicoche said. MLAs speak out against bullying All regular members rallied in support of anti-bullying policies Thursday. Eleven MLAs dedicated their members' statements to addressing the problem of bullying throughout the NWT, noting that while children were the main focus, the problem of bullying extends to people in all walks of life. "When I hear about something that's happening at our school, I ask myself whether it's just a mirror of the rest of the world that we live in," said Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya. "Where are the kids getting the idea that it's OK to push each other around or to say mean things to each other or to try to get power over others?" Regular members are pushing the cabinet, specifically Education Minister Jackson Lafferty, for co-ordinated, territory-wide legislation to combat bullying. Lafferty said his department is exploring the approach taken by other provinces, such as Manitoba, Quebec and Alberta, which have already enacted legislation. Lafferty said he would report back to the members within a year. The members went on to support a motion by Range Lake MLA Daryl Dolynny, who called for the GNWT to "establish a territory-wide campaign to denounce bullying" and "provide a comprehensive response to this motion within 120 days." New rent scales New rent scales for public housing could be implemented as early as July 1, according to Housing Minister Robert C. McLeod. Public housing rent scales will be adjusted to address the income-based rent policy, which has been criticized as a disincentive to work. McLeod said the new rent scales would be a "major change for many tenants" but would be simpler, fairer and more predictable. The adjusted rent scales are one of many recommendations stemming from the GNWT's Shelter Policy review, which McLeod said was nearly finished. Other Shelter Policy review recommendations being implemented in 2012-2013 include changes to the current home ownership repair programs; a new emergency repair program to help lower-income homeowners; expanding housing options in non-market and emerging market communities; the development of a rent supplement program; and finalizing arrangements for a $2.3-million contribution to the Betty House initiative in Yellowknife.
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