Arctic MLAs raised concerns about the status of teachers amid the difficulties of pandemic on Monday.

Nunakput MLA Jackie Jacobson said teachers in the Beaufort Delta want access to rapid testing and to be designated as essential workers so they donSA国际影视传媒檛 have to pay for their self-isolation when returning to the NWT after spring break.

Teachers fear backlash for publicly airing their concerns related to travel in and out of the NWT, Jacobson said.

He asked Health Minister Julie Green why the designation of SA国际影视传媒渆ssential workerSA国际影视传媒� applies to doctors and nurses but not teachers.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey need support. I need help from ministers on this to help my teachers,SA国际影视传媒� he said.  

Under the regulations of the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer, health and social service providers, postal service workers, peace officers, emergency responders, military personnel and others.

Regulations

Those regulations were last updated on Dec. 15, 2020.

Teachers are not on that list, a fact Green reiterated in her response to Jacobson.

Green explained that the goal of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign is to vaccinate everyone in the NWT who is 18 years of age and older by the end of March, at which point teachers SA国际影视传媒渨ill be in the same position as everyone else.SA国际影视传媒�

However, she added that border controls arenSA国际影视传媒檛 likely to be relaxed by the end of March because vaccination rates elsewhere in Canada are much lower than in the NWT.

SA国际影视传媒淲hy is it so hard getting essential worker status for teachers?SA国际影视传媒� Jacobson asked in reply. SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檝e done so much for the students but theySA国际影视传媒檙e asking for help right now. They need to get out. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 been a year almost since some of them have returned home. They need support for holidays (and) giving them a break.SA国际影视传媒�

Green said that where vaccines have been administered in small communities SA国际影视传媒渆very adult over 18 has received a vaccine and of course that includes teachers.SA国际影视传媒�

Although almost all small communities in the NWT have been given the chance for first doses of the Moderna vaccine, itSA国际影视传媒檚 not clear that second doses - required for full immunization - have been administered in those places.

Second doses for Elders

Health officials began administering second doses to Elders in Yellowknife, Behchoko, Hay River, Inuvik and Fort Simpson.  

SA国际影视传媒淚n terms of leaving the territory, no one is a prisoner here,SA国际影视传媒� said Green, who then explained the policy that NWT residents returning to the territory must pay for their own self-isolation costs if their travel was not for medical or family purposes.

Inuvik-Twin Lakes MLA Lesa Semmler doubled down on the question of essential service status for teachers, saying they provide SA国际影视传媒渨hat I feel is an essential service to children.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲hat is the plan for approving travel this spring break (for teachers) since it was such a hot topic at Christmas?SA国际影视传媒�

Education Minister R.J. Simpson replied that the plan would be very similar to what it was for Christmas.

In December, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) determined that teachers have to apply for extended unpaid leave for the Christmas break. Teachers granted that time off wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 receive paid leave while self-isolating and would have to prepare lesson plans for the time they were away from classes.

Matthew Miller, NWT Teachers Association president called the decision SA国际影视传媒渆xtremely disappointingSA国际影视传媒�

Semmler asked if ECE has surveyed whether there would be large numbers of job vacancies in September, implying that the lack of vacations at Christmas and spring break would exhaust them to the point of leaving permanently.

Sacrifices by teachers

Simpson acknowledged the sacrifices educators have made during the Covid-19 pandemic.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 tough to get teachers here and itSA国际影视传媒檚 often difficult to keep them," he said. "ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a different way of life (here). We often lose teachers at Christmas. Some donSA国际影视传媒檛 come back after the break.SA国际影视传媒�

He said he expected teacher turnover and assumed a higher number than normal wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 come back.

Semmler wondered if this would lead to more distance learning classes for students due to the lack of teachers.

Simpson said added distance learning is the last thing ECE wants, and stressed that he hopes to attract more teachers to the NWT.