MVSD Preparing for New Students
Mountain View School Division is doing their best to prepare for the arrivals of Syrian families in Dauphin, since some of them are school-aged.
A common concern with families moving to a new home is whether or not their kids will be accepted by their classmates.
Based on the experiences of past international students, Superintendent Donna Davidson doesn't believe the new students will have problems fitting in.
Davidson says the biggest hurdle for the newcomers will be the language barrier, but says kids are great at learning new languages, so it shouldn't be a problem for long.
"We find that, when I talk to my colleagues in other parts of the province who have welcomed refugees and immigrants from other communities who are unable to speak English, they found that the children, once they're immersed in the program, develop quite quickly."
Davidson noted in last night's school board meeting that the first of three refugee families could arrive in Dauphin by the end of this week.
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Sask Premier Looking for Federal Support in Well Cleanup Plan
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is asking the federal government to bankroll a program that would use oil and gas worker who have lost their jobs to clean up abandoned and dormant wells.
Wall says it would help stimulate employment in the oil-and-gas sector and accelerate environmental cleanup of wells that are no longer capable of production.
Wall says the proposal would cost Ottawa $156-million and would created 1,200 jobs.
The government estimates there are more than 20,500 wells in Saskatchewan that are currently not producing, many of which are waiting to be decommissioned and reclaimed.
Saskatchewan's proposal is the brainchild of Matt Cugnet, president of Valleyview Petroleum Limited of Weyburn.
He says you can pay people to sit home on employment insurance or you can pay them to create value.
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Change in Fighting Strategy
As promised during last year's election campaign, the Trudeau government is reconfiguring its strategy in the fight against Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria.
Combat sorties flown by CF-18 jets will come to an end by February 22nd.
The bombing runs will be replaced by what Prime Minister Trudeau calls an expanded mission that will focus on training and advising local security forces, and helping to rebuild the shattered region.
Trudeau has insisted the special forces' trainers would not be involved in combat, although Defence-staff chief General Jonathan Vance says trainers are likely to face defensive "engagements,'' but adds that won't mean they're taking part in a combat mission.
The NDP accuses the Liberals of "blurring the line'' between combat and non-combat roles.
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Anger, Cynicism, and Mistrust
Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett says she heard tremendous anger and cynicism during her meetings with relatives of missing and murdered aboriginal women in Winnipeg.
Bennett is consulting victims' families and others on how an upcoming inquiry should be designed.
But she says Winnipeg families seem to be skeptical about how an inquiry will help, and harbour trust issues with the police and government.
