Budget, Oral Questions, Tobacco Tax Act, Education Act — 8 February 2017 (18th Assembly, 2nd Session, pp. 1535–1562)
2017-02-08, 18th Assembly 2nd Session, pp. 1535–1562
Northwest Territories — Debates (Hansard)
Debates of Feb. 8th, 2017
This is page numbers 1535 – 1562 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library.
The word of the day was budget .
Topics
Oral Questions
Members Present
Prayer
Mackenzie Valley Highway Wrigley To Norman Wells
Bathurst Caribou Range Plan Initiative
Update On Energy Strategy Engagement
Progress Statement On The NWT Housing Corporation
Innovation And Knowledge Economy Development
Proposed Aurora College Programming Reductions
Passing Of Boniface Ayha
Proposed University For The Northwest Territories
Junior Kindergarten Implementation
Student Instructional Hours In Schools
Moose Kerr School Activities
Renewable Energy Alternatives For Small Communities
Passing Of Former Colleague And Friend Chris Szabo
Mental Health Services In Hay River
Mr. McNeely's Reply
Mr. Abernethy's Reply
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Operations
Proposed Aurora College Programming Reductions
Junior Kindergarten Implementation
Student Instructional Hours In Schools
Mental Health Services In Hay River
Innovation And Knowledge Economy Development
Post-Secondary Strategic And Action Plan
Renewable Energy Charette
Facility Upgrades To Moose Kerr School
Promoting Tourism In Small Communities
Student Instructional Hours In Schools
Tabled Document 268-18(2): Report Of Special Warrants Issued – November 5, 2016 To January 30, 2017
Tabled Document 269-18(2): Follow-Up Letter To Oral Question 343-18(2) - Small Business Funding Supports
Tabled Document 271-18(2): Northwest Territories Conflict Of Interest Commissioner Annual Report To The Legislative Assembly For 2016
Tabled Document 272-18(2): Advisory Council On Economic Growth Second Report Package
First Reading of Bills
Bill 15:
An Act To Amend The Tobacco Tax Act
Bill 16:
An Act To Amend The Education Act
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Report of Committee of the Whole
Orders of the Day
Members Present
Hon. Glen Abernethy , Mr. Beaulieu , Mr. Blake , Hon. Caroline Cochrane , Ms. Green , Hon. Jackson Lafferty , Hon. Bob McLeod , Hon. Robert McLeod , Mr. McNeely , Hon. Alfred Moses , Mr. Nadli , Mr. O’Reilly, Hon. Wally Schumann , Hon. Louis Sebert , Mr. Simpson , Mr. Testart , Mr. Thompson , Mr. Vanthuyne .
The House met at 1:32 p.m.
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---Prayer
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Prayer
Prayer
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Good afternoon, Members. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Minister of Transportation .
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Minister's Statement 122-18(2): Mackenzie Valley Highway Wrigley To Norman Wells
Ministers’ Statements
Wally Schumann
Hay River South
Mr. Speaker, investments in our transportation system are critical for creating economic and social opportunities for Northerners. The Department of Transportation’s commitment to securing federal funding to advance the Mackenzie Valley Highway under the mandate of the 18th Legislative Assembly is intended to capture these kinds of opportunities.
We are already seeing the benefits of road construction in the Beaufort Delta, where the northernmost
section of the Mackenzie Valley Highway, the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway, is nearly completed. Improved access and significant training and employment has positioned the residents of Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk to take advantage of future opportunities related to resource development and tourism and will result in a lower cost of living.
Mr. Speaker, now is the time to start bringing benefits like these to the residents of the Sahtu. We know that the suspension of oil production in Norman Wells is currently contributing to economic uncertainty for many residents. More than ever, we need to invest in projects that generate employment and reduce the cost of living in this region.
remaining $5 million, or 25 per cent. The project involves the construction of a 14 kilometre access road south of the Town of Norman Wells, providing access to granular resources and traditional Sahtu lands which may be used for recreation, tourism, and business development.
Construction alone is expected to create 50 jobs, general training opportunities for 12 individuals, and heavy equipment operator training for 16 individuals. The skills and experience gained by the Sahtu residents involved in the project will help prepare them to participate fully in the eventual construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway. Construction will also benefit a host of local and northern suppliers of things like construction equipment, signage, and building materials. Project construction is expected to begin this March, and the direct employment benefits will be spread over nearly two years, which is when the project is expected to be completed.
The Canyon Creek all-season access road represents another step towards replacing the existing Mackenzie Valley winter road with an all-weather corridor, which remains the ultimate solution to improving transportation access throughout the Mackenzie Valley.
Mr. Speaker, construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway from Wrigley to Norman Wells will reduce the impacts of climate change on the Northwest Territories' transportation system, which are shortening the window of operation for winter roads. A more resilient transportation system will also result in efficiencies in the delivery of essential goods and materials to communities. The savings realized by the trucking industry will be passed on to consumers for household necessities and lower the cost of supplies required for the construction of houses, schools, and medical care facilities.
Improved intercommunity mobility will also allow residents better access to services that may not be immediately available in their own community. Businesses will be connected to other markets, supporting economic growth. The improved access will also reduce the cost of industry exploration and development, opening up new areas for mineral potential and increasing the attractiveness of continued petroleum production and development in the Sahtu. The Mackenzie Valley Highway is critical to unlocking much of the still untapped resource potential of the region.
Tourism in remote communities throughout the Mackenzie Valley is also expected to increase with the completion of the all-weather highway.
The Department of Transportation continues to build political support for construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway from Wrigley to Norman Wells. This project is in the mandate approved by the Legislative Assembly, and we will work with the Sahtu to see it through.
The department has submitted a business case requesting $700 million in federal funding under the National Infrastructure Fund of the New Building Canada Plan. While the federal government’s review of this funding submission is currently suspended pending a decision by Canada regarding its long-term infrastructure funding plan, new opportunities for funding may become available with the upcoming federal budget. In the meantime, the Department of Transportation continues identifying ways to advance critical components of the envisioned highway, including the Great Bear River Bridge.
Mr. Speaker, the construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway remains a high priority for Northerners. The Department of Transportation continues to pursue opportunities to advance the project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Minister's Statement 122-18(2): Mackenzie Valley Highway Wrigley To Norman Wells
Ministers’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources .
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Minister's Statement 123-18(2): Bathurst Caribou Range Plan Initiative
Ministers’ Statements
Robert C. McLeod
Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to provide an update on the progress made on the development of a range plan for the Bathurst caribou herd. As Members may be aware, cumulative impact concerns were raised during environmental assessments of the Gahcho Kue, Fortune Minerals NICO project, and the Jay Pipe project expansion. Each environmental assessment recommended that the Government of the Northwest Territories develop approaches for cumulative effects monitoring.
In response to these concerns and measures, the Government of the Northwest Territories began a collaborative process in 2014 for development of a range plan to reduce and manage disturbance to caribou and caribou habitat from human and natural change. This initiative supports the following two priorities of this Legislative Assembly and the mandate:
● improving coordination and effectiveness in resource management systems, recognizing traditional knowledge, land claims agreements and devolution; and
● effective co-management of caribou herds.
Mr. Speaker, a working group which includes representatives from federal, territorial, and Aboriginal governments, industry, wildlife co-management boards, Aboriginal and non-government organizations has been meeting to discuss and consider management options for a Bathurst caribou range plan.
I am pleased to report the working group has completed a draft discussion document on concept and approaches that could be used to develop the range plan. The document will be used to engage Aboriginal governments, regulators, communities, stakeholders, and the public on management options and potential tools.
These tools include:
● cumulative disturbance thresholds which reflect limits of acceptable change based on ecological, cultural, social and economic values and perspectives;
● conservation areas to formally protect important migration corridors and sensitive habitats;
● activity guidelines to manage locations and timing of human land use activities to reduce direct impact on caribou when they are in certain areas at certain times; and
● access management approaches to address issues such as construction methods and route orientation to reduce barriers to caribou movement, consolidation of routes, and use of seasonal roads.
Engagement on the concepts and approaches to protect important caribou habitat will start in the next few weeks.
Mr. Speaker, decisions about caribou management is a shared responsibility and must consider ecological, cultural, and economic values to achieve balanced outcomes.
I encourage Aboriginal governments, communities, decision-makers, stakeholders, and the public to review, discuss, and provide feedback on these options so we can achieve balance in managing the range of the Bathurst caribou herd for the benefit of current and future generations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Minister's Statement 123-18(2): Bathurst Caribou Range Plan Initiative
Ministers’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Public Works and Services .
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Minister's Statement 124-18(2): Update On Energy Strategy Engagement
Ministers’ Statements
Wally Schumann
Hay River South
Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Energy Strategy will support the transition to a lower carbon economy in the NWT in the transportation, heating, electricity, and industrial sectors by supporting efficiency as well as renewable and alternative energy solutions.
Hearing from NWT residents is an important part of developing our strategy, and we started hosting a series of regional public engagement sessions to inform both the Energy Strategy and the Climate Change Strategic Framework in November. We have already been to Inuvik, Norman Wells, Yellowknife, and Fort Smith, and will go to Fort Simpson, Hay River, and Behchoko over the coming weeks. To help frame our public engagements, we have already released an Energy Strategy Discussion Guide, which is also available online.
Mr. Speaker, to make sure that workshop participants properly represented regional interests, the Government of the Northwest Territories brought in stakeholders from the surrounding communities to take part.
The format for these sessions is a two-day invitational workshop along with an evening public session. This approach makes it possible to have participants focus on the Energy Strategy for one day and the Climate Change Strategic Framework on the second day.
These workshops have been well-attended, with roughly 200 participants so far. Feedback has been positive, with participants saying that the format helped them take
part in both engagements in a meaningful way.
Through these engagements we heard that energy affordability is a major concern. We also heard that the Government of the Northwest Territories should improve its outreach on energy and how it communicates so people have a better understanding of the Northwest Territories' energy system. It was of great interest to us when many participants expressed desire to be more involved as part of the solution through cooperation and partnership.
Participants generally said, we need to do more to support local renewable and alternative energy. This means solutions addressing affordability as well as greenhouse gas emissions for electricity, heating, and transportation.
We also collected significant feedback on how to support the public on making energy efficiency improvements. Participants expressed that the Government of the Northwest Territories should help more with more upfront, flexible, and expanded programs and services. The input we receive as part of these engagements will be used to help us review energy efficiency programs and services provided by the Government of the Northwest Territories, which is among our mandate commitments.
We also heard about carbon pricing. People asked quality questions and raised legitimate concerns about the potential impacts that a carbon tax could have on residents, business, and industry in the Northwest Territories. This valuable feedback will help guide our research and discussions with the federal government and territorial counterparts on how best to prepare for a price on carbon that works for the people of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot of encouraging things through these engagements, and what we heard will be made public through regional engagement reports once all of our workshops are completed.
The Government of the Northwest Territories is involved at a national level in both the Canadian Energy Strategy and the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. It is important that the Northwest Territories be part of a national solution to address climate change and make energy more sustainable. Our involvement allows us to work with our colleagues from across Canada to find solutions for our common issues, ensuring the challenges facing northern jurisdictions are considered. This includes a commitment to work with the federal government to explore expanding the Taltson hydropower site and finding solutions to diesel use in off-grid communities.
Part of our mandate commitment is to participate in the Pan-Canadian Task Force on Reducing Diesel in Remote Communities. This is part of a larger Canadian Energy Strategy. We provided the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, Arctic Energy Alliance, Lutsel K’e Dene First Nation, Tlicho Government, and Inuvialuit Regional Corporation with support to attend a national summit on the topic. Making sure that northern voices are part of these efforts at the national level is important, helps us achieve our mandate commitments, and supports the development of our own energy strategy.
The government’s mandate commitments include increasing the production and transmission of renewable and alternative energy and supporting the use of energy-efficient technologies in the residential, commercial, and public sectors. A new energy strategy will help us achieve this. As we near the end of our public engagement sessions, the Government of the Northwest Territories will begin drafting the strategy over the course of this winter and spring. We look forward to sharing it with Members for their input before releasing it to the public later this year.
Mr. Speaker, this strategy will help chart a course for an energy future in the Northwest Territories that will rely less on carbon, will be more secure, and will help fulfill the goals and beliefs of our people. We will create a plan aiming to make sure residents have access to affordable, sustainable energy, and will support our long-term economic, social, and environmental well-being. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Minister's Statement 124-18(2): Update On Energy Strategy Engagement
Ministers’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation .
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Minister's Statement 125-18(2): Progress Statement On The NWT Housing Corporation
Ministers’ Statements
Caroline Cochrane
Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our entry into this Legislative Assembly just over a year ago seems a distant memory. Back then, having been a Minister for less than a couple of months, the learning curve was daunting and there were many things I needed to learn. The perception of how long ago those times were is reinforced even more by how much work we have done since then.
Not only did I spend days, evenings, and weekends reading binder after binder, I have expanded my housing knowledge the honest way by travelling throughout our territory into our rural and remote communities and talking with the people we represent. These visits allowed me the opportunity to hear first-hand the struggles people face in their attempt to obtain, retain, or maintain housing within their home communities.
We set a path for ourselves with the drafting of our mandate last year, and housing is a large
part in realizing our mandate. The housing actions that we have implemented support all of our priorities, but specifically cost of living and community safety and wellness.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to provide you a progress report on housing activities over the last year.
In terms of homelessness supports, there have been many projects that have been initiated, including the homeless forum to solicit the needs and solutions in Yellowknife, which provided stakeholder-defined solutions to guide the roadmap action group led by the City of Yellowknife. We provided support for the Housing First project operated by the Yellowknife Women’s Society and the renovation of shelters to include semi-independent singles' units. We are also converting vacant units into three four-plexes in the communities to house singles and providing maintenance funding to support these units.
We have developed a housing survey and delivered it across the territory to solicit feedback into potential solutions. To date, we have nearly 1,200 replies. The housing survey will be used to identify areas of concern and to guide the revision of all our homelessness programming as part of the strategic program renewal the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is conducting. We will be looking for ways to amend our policies and our programming, with the ultimate goal of ensuring residents have access to programs and supports to help them enter the housing market and/or retain their housing units.
In terms of subsidized rental housing, investment continued to be made in the renovation and repair of the public housing stock. The modernization of our units, especially through energy-efficient technologies, supports the overall sustainability of this important social infrastructure totaling over 2,400 units. The replacement of old units with high energy consumption with multi-unit buildings that feature energy-efficient technologies such as photovoltaic solar panels, pellet boilers, and solar hot water heaters also helps to improve the sustainability of public housing and lower the cost of living for people.
The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation implemented an enhanced communications and promotions campaign to raise greater awareness in seniors of the types of support and programming available to them. The most effective tool was direct marketing through visits to each community in the fall of 2016. As Members know, providing support so people can remain in their homes as long as possible assists in helping our seniors age in place and is a key priority in supporting community safety and wellness.
Another action on this priority is the development of seniors' independent housing nine-plexes that are targeted to seniors with low-to-modest income. These facilities are designed for independent living, but also have common areas to promote programming and socialization. These units are critical contributions to the social infrastructure for communities, enabling elders to remain in their home communities where they have the support of their friends and families.
We also continued to make progress in disposing of surplus units, with 55 units disposed of to date and with full expectation that the 2016-17 target of 89 units, 34 disposed through sales and 55 through demolition, will be reached. Recognizing that these units hold residual value and may be of interest to individuals or local organizations, units for disposal are now listed on the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation website. The disposal of these surplus units will free up land and resources that can be reinvested into housing supports.
The demolition of surplus units will also provide an opportunity to train people regarding the removal of hazardous material so that we can hire local people and create employment in small communities.
Mr. Speaker, energy efficiency is important to the sustainability and longevity of our housing programs. Given our high cost of utilities and our cold environment, we are building to a higher standard than southern jurisdictions. As such, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has been leading the way, using energy-efficient building practices and piloting alternative energy sources. All of our new construction meets or exceeds the high energy-efficiency standard of EnerGuide 80. This year, we have invested $850,000 in energy-efficient projects, including solar, insulation, and other energy upgrades on multi-unit public housing buildings.
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Minister's Statement 125-18(2): Progress Statement On The NWT Housing Corporation
Ministers’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Minister, at this time your time for Minister's statement has expired.
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Minister's Statement 125-18(2): Progress Statement On The NWT Housing Corporation
Ministers’ Statements
Caroline Cochrane
Range Lake
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask for unanimous consent to finish my statement. Thank you.
---Unanimous consent granted
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Minister's Statement 125-18(2): Progress Statement On The NWT Housing Corporation
Ministers’ Statements
Caroline Cochrane
Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for fiscal year 2017-18 our capital plan includes $4.8 million in investments in energy-efficient components and upgrades.
We have also partnered with the Arctic Energy Alliance in supporting their LED lighting project, and the upcoming fiscal year will see us investing $200,000 to continue to support the LED initiative for its public housing units. These actions will help reduce CO2emissions and associated fuel costs for both existing home units and future construction projects.
Having accessible, timely, and responsive property management services is important to our residents who access our rental programs. I am pleased to report that this year we have opened new local housing organizations in the communities of Fort Liard, Gameti, and Whati. Residents can now go down the street in these communities and talk with a housing manager, get counselled one-on-one on housing finances, or speak to their maintenance officer about issues they might have.
Mr. Speaker, over the past year, I have learned a lot about the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation's programs and policies and the impact these have for residents. All the while, housing programs and services have continued to be delivered with our overarching mandate ever-present and informing our actions. Once the information from our engagement survey is all in and it has been analyzed, I will be moving aggressively to revise and/or develop policy and program responses to address the identified needs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Minister's Statement 125-18(2): Progress Statement On The NWT Housing Corporation
Ministers’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Ministers' statements. Colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to public in the gallery. We have with us Shannon Gullberg, language commissioner for the Northwest Territories. Welcome to our proceedings. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake .
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Innovation And Knowledge Economy Development
Members’ Statements
Kieron Testart
Kam Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, something I am perhaps most passionate about is the development of the Northwest Territories' knowledge economy. I have called for the evolution of Aurora College into a fully realized polytechnic institute. I have advocated for enhancing funding for Dechinta Bush University, and supported legislation to allow made-in-the-North academic degrees.
Mr. Speaker, although the success of our economy has always relied on resource industries, it is time to focus on building a resilient economy that capitalizes on the incredible talents of Northerners. I am talking about a real knowledge economy built on northern innovation and supported by this government as a way to deliver inclusive and sustainable long-term growth.
Mr. Speaker, the Federal Advisory Council on Economic Growth issued the second Path to Prosperity report on February 6th of this year. The report's recommendations are focused on unleashing Canada's economic potential by innovating our current economic paradigm to drive growth through creating a highly skilled Canadian workforce for the jobs of tomorrow. This is the kind of real change that Canadians and our North needs now more than ever to address a troubling trend that is also evident in this report. Up to 40 per cent of the current Canadian workforce will quite possibly become obsolete due to increasing automation within the next 10 years.
Instead of putting their heads into the ground to hide from this inevitability, the advisory council has a solution: to build a highly skilled and resilient workforce. The anchor of this solution to the major structural changes on the horizon is the creation of a future skills lab, a non-profit and non-political body designed to encourage and enable next-generation skills. It would invite all levels of government, private sector organizations, labour unions, and other interested parties to partner on an opt-in basis that would co-finance innovative pilot programs, skills, and competency development that address identified labour gaps.
Mr. Speaker, I truly believe we should take similar actions to unlock innovation within our future generation of Northerners, whether that means restructuring our current publicly funded institutions or taking into account prior suggestions I have put forward on the creation of new ones. We simply cannot afford not to act. The jobs of the future are out there, Mr. Speaker, and it is time that we started encouraging innovation in the northern work force so we won't be left in the cold when the shift comes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Innovation And Knowledge Economy Development
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North .
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Proposed Aurora College Programming Reductions
Members’ Statements
Cory Vanthuyne
Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in recent days there has been a lot of attention on the government's proposal to end Aurora College's four-year Teacher Education Program and its two-year Social Work Diploma program.
Students of these programs were surprised by the cuts. Now they're worried about their education and job futures, while other residents are worried about how we will meet the demand for northern teachers and social workers.
Mr. Speaker, the proposed cuts touch on several issues close to the hearts of Regular Members: job creation, education, the fulfilment of our mandate, and reconciliation.
First, job creation. With the Skills 4 Success action plan, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment seeks to align NWT post-secondary education with job demand, but that is going to need to include jobs in the teaching profession projected in our 15-year job forecast to be in top demand.
Last year the Social Work Diploma program had six graduates. All of them were immediately hired or offered jobs, and all of them continued their studies towards a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. That may be a small class, but we're a small territory, and our education system is inextricably linked to the success of our economy.
Next, education and fulfillment of the mandate. Mr. Speaker, it's our part of our mandate to expand, not to shrink opportunities of post-secondary education in northern educational institutions. I'd argue that our Student Financial Assistance program is the best in Canada, helping students pursue their education goals even when it means temporarily leaving the NWT, but if we want to strengthen our own capacity for education and for home-grown workers, like the five women currently in the social work program, we need to support quality options here at home. Mr. Speaker, there is no time like the present.
Third, reconciliation. Mr. Speaker, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada called for funding on post-secondary teacher training programs that educated teachers on integrating Indigenous knowledge into their work. The Teacher Education Program does just that.
Mr. Speaker, all 19 Members in the House want to close the skills gap. We all want to see our people working.
If the government feels that the best option for Northerners is to close these programs, Northerners must know that their elected leaders have a clear plan for how our territory will thrive without them. At this point, Mr. Speaker, I'm not seeing the plan. I'll have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Proposed Aurora College Programming Reductions
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu .
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Passing Of Boniface Ayha
Members’ Statements
Daniel McNeely
Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This morning we lost a respected elder from the Sahtu community in Tulita, and on behalf of the Sahtu region we want to send all the family our thoughts and prayers. Boniface Ayha, also known as just Bonni, was a well-known elder who loved his home community of Tulita; however, he was born and raised in Deline. Bonni loved to laugh and share many Shutagotine stories with our youths. Bonni also served this government for over 24 years and especially enjoyed his time with his family out on the land.
Mr. Speaker, Boniface Ayha leaves behind his wife, Margery, and five boys, and he will be truly missed by his family and the people of the Sahtu Region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Passing Of Boniface Ayha
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Our condolences and prayers goes out to the family, as well. Bonnie also has relatives in Behchoko and Tlicho Region. Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake .
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Proposed University For The Northwest Territories
Members’ Statements
Kevin O'Reilly
Frame Lake
Merci, monsieur le President. I want to talk about how we can develop a real post-secondary education system leading to transformative change in the Northwest Territories. I'm talking about beginning the work of building a university of the Northwest Territories.
Canada is the only circumpolar nation without a university in its arctic or sub-arctic region. In 2015, I had the opportunity to visit the second largest city is Iceland, called Akureyri. It's a thriving place with about 19,000 people and a university established in 1987. There are now about 1,900 students and 180 faculty and staff. Many of the students are from the circumpolar world including Canada. Undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered in business administration, education sciences, educational studies, health sciences, natural resources sciences, and polar law.
There are seven research institutes on campus. All of this activity generates business, innovation, and many international partnerships. There is no reason why we can't do the same here in the Northwest Territories if our leaders have the vision and political will.
In the Northwest Territories we have developed world-leading practices in the documentation and application of traditional knowledge and its use in environmental management. Our integrated resource management system established through Indigenous land rights agreements is the envy of many around the world, and there is a lot of interest and study of what we are doing up here. We are continually developing new approaches to the architectural and engineering challenges of cold climate design, construction, and operations.
I have raised the issue of environmental legacies that have been left behind by past industrial operations, but the flipside is that they have developed a lot of experience with site closure and remediation that can be shared around the world.
Putting these concepts together with our existing institutions of College nordique, Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning, and Aurora College, we can build a strong post-secondary education network and university of the Northwest Territories. This is the kind of transformative change that the federal government is looking for and many Northwest Territories' residents, too, as we look beyond mining. I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
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Proposed University For The Northwest Territories
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho .
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Junior Kindergarten Implementation
Members’ Statements
Michael Nadli
Deh Cho
There are still several lingering issues, some of which have been brought up by my colleagues. I'll highlight three themes.
First, government-to-government relationships. When ECE moved to include JK students at Chief Sunrise School in the Hay River Reserve, the chief and council were not consulted. Later the Minister met with staff from the local DEA and from the Aboriginal Head Start program, but again did not involve the chief and council.
This is not appropriate, Mr. Speaker. At all times, protocols of consultation and consent must be respected. There are legal precedents that set protocols for consultations.
Second, resources. [Translation begins] We talk about the money and they said if we work on it enough then there will be money there for them, but we're not sure. For me, it's Chief Sunrise School. I think about them. On Monday the Minister of junior kindergarten said if there's money there then in the fall time we might find out, he said, but how much money they're talking about, the teachers, how much they need to work with them, maybe until the end of March, he said. So more than that, the young children, when they're going to school, they have to be bused to this school, too. We don’t know what's going to happen with that. [Translation ends]
Third, small community solutions. While JK is working well and welcome in some communities, that doesn't mean it's right for others. At a constituency meetings in Fort Providence I was told in no uncertain terms that JK should be stopped. There, residents value the strong relationship between the Aboriginal Head Start program and their community. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Mahsi.
---Unanimous consent granted
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Junior Kindergarten Implementation
Members’ Statements
Michael Nadli
Deh Cho
Mahsi, colleagues. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. There residents value the strong relationship between the Aboriginal Head Start program and their community. They don’t understand why ECE wouldn't want to build on that success.
I will speak more on Aboriginal Head Start tomorrow, Mr. Speaker. For now, let me say that people I have spoken with remain concerned that JK might work in regional centres, but not in our small communities and schools.
Confusion like we've seen in the House this week doesn't soothe those worries. It only muddies the waters and raises more questions. Until tomorrow, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.
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Junior Kindergarten Implementation
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre .
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Student Instructional Hours In Schools
Members’ Statements
Julie Green
Yellowknife Centre
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I worked for the CBC, I remember meeting a family in Fort Good Hope and talking to them about education. This conversation happened maybe about 10 years ago. The mom in that family told me that when it came time for high school for their youngest child -- they had maybe four or five kids -- the family decided they would make a special effort for him. They would spend less time on the land and more time in town so that he could attend school every day. They encouraged him to do his best, and he did.
He eventually earned a high school diploma and then applied for post-secondary education. I don't recall where he applied, but the response he got was that he needed upgrading. He was shocked, and his family was shocked and disappointed. They had sacrificed and made an investment to get him through high school, but they felt they failed because he needed upgrading even after getting his diploma.
Mr. Speaker, this is a cautionary tale that has some resonance for me because of the agreement between the government and the teachers' union to reduce instructional time by up to 100 hours a year. I don't begrudge the teachers the extra time for preparation, professional development, and writing report cards, not at all. I think the fact they work so many hours speaks to their dedication, but also how thinly resourced the schools are relative to all the demands we now make of teachers to do so much more than teach; but I do worry about the consequences for students, especially those in high school.
Mr. Speaker, as you know, student achievement in the NWT has been gauged by writing the Alberta Achievement Tests in grades 3, 6, and 9. The AATs are a standardized measure of student progress in two areas, language arts and math. The last detailed results I could find are for 2012-13. There's not a lot of difference in results between the regional centres and Yellowknife, but community results are very disappointing.
Some of the problem is with low levels of attendance in the small communities, but I also wonder what good reducing instructional hours will do for students who are already struggling, especially in high school. Is there not a way to offset this loss of instruction with supported activities, such as through teaching assistants?
It is in the high school that the reduced hours are most noticeable and will have the most impact. Alberta requires 1,000 hours of instruction a year, while the -- sorry, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude by statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
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Student Instructional Hours In Schools
Members’ Statements
Julie Green
Yellowknife Centre
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Alberta requires 1,000 hours of instruction a year, while the agreement between the teachers and the government is offering less, a reduction of 50 hours. I worry if that means the NWT high school students will fall behind in their progress through the curriculum, meaning for them, like the student in Fort Good Hope, upgrading will be essential if they want to move on to post-secondary education. I will have questions for the Minister. Mahsi.
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Student Instructional Hours In Schools
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta .
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Moose Kerr School Activities
Members’ Statements
Frederick Blake Jr.
Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to tell you what's been going on in Aklavik's Moose Kerr school over the past year, and I've got to say, they've been pretty busy. Last year, Moose Kerr's 14 teachers taught 161 children, kindergarten to grade 12 students. The school also hosted a safety-theme week, practising fire drills, lockdown procedures, firearm safety, and water safety in the summer, and later reviewing ice safety rules in the fall.
The spring celebration honoured students for strong attendance records and academic achievements, while the school also organized a traditional trappers' week to celebrate traditional practices and give students a chance to learn and play in a new way.
The Moose Kerr isn't only a school, Mr. Speaker. It's also a vital, valuable, and well-used community space, hosting volleyball games, movie nights, and family board game parties. Staff from the Inuvik Community Greenhouse came to town last June. The executive director gave his gardening workshop, you guessed it, at Moose Kerr. The school also welcomed visitors, the legendary NWT ski team, including a local hero, Sharon Firth.
Back in 2015, the Moose Kerr gym even hosted a TEDx Talks conference to showcase Aboriginal culture. Presentations included a talk on education from Moose Kerr's first Indigenous principal, Ms. Velma Iliasiak.
There's so much going on, Mr. Speaker, and so much depending on the school. It's time to think seriously about planning for building a replacement.
We've heard the Minister say that Moose Kerr has been identified for renovation or replacement in approximately two years, in 2019. In the meantime, I want to make sure that we stay on top of active safety concerns. These include possible asbestos risks, especially since asbestos was found in Inuvik's Samuel Hearne School, and road safety because of lack of parking.
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Moose Kerr School Activities
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Member for Mackenzie Delta , your time for Member's statement has expired.
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Moose Kerr School Activities
Members’ Statements
Frederick Blake Jr.
Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.
---Unanimous consent granted
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Moose Kerr School Activities
Members’ Statements
Frederick Blake Jr.
Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. I was almost done, actually. These include possible asbestos risks, especially since asbestos was found in Inuvik's Samuel Hearne School, and road safety because lack of parking makes the school grounds difficult to navigate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I'll have questions for the Minister later today.
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Moose Kerr School Activities
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .
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Renewable Energy Alternatives For Small Communities
Members’ Statements
Tom Beaulieu
Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh
Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in his sessional statement, the Premier mentioned a combined federal-territorial initiative looking at renewable solutions for the off-grid diesel community. Those solutions exist. Colville Lake has proven that. A carbon tax is coming. Emissions need to be cut. The cost of living needs to be brought down in our small communities, and our small communities need economic opportunity.
There was a Pan-Canadian summit on this priority in Winnipeg in January. There were small community people from Akaitcho, Deh Cho, Tlicho, Sahtu, as well as the chair of the IRC and the senior representative from the GTC, along with staff from the GNWT, NTPC, and the Arctic Energy Alliance. They were in full support at this summit for an initiative to get small communities off diesel.
Mr. Speaker, the technology is there to address this priority. High penetration of micro-grade technology in off-grid communities is a way forward. This is a green economic opportunity that can bring hundreds of millions of dollars to the 26 off-grid communities over the next 10 years, creating economic opportunity, lowering the cost of energy and living, and protecting the environment.
There is a plan for microgrids into the communities, something that all communities want. There is a plan for a charette to bring the communities' Aboriginal government, industry, environmental NGOs, and government together in June in Yellowknife to kick start the process. Over $100,000 has been raised by partners working on this. I support this plan, and ask the government to step up, collaborate, and play a leadership role with other partners to make the charette happen and seize opportunity to help off-grid communities in the development of energy alternatives. Marci cho, Mr. Speaker.
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Renewable Energy Alternatives For Small Communities
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh .
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Passing Of Former Colleague And Friend Chris Szabo
Members’ Statements
Shane Thompson
Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with great sadness, I announce the sudden and unexpected passing of a former colleague and dear friend, Chris Szabo, on January 18, 2017, in his home in the Nasksup, BC, at the age of 59.
Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to meet Chris in the spring of 1988 in Inuvik, then later in Cambridge Bay where he was the recreation coordinator. He spent almost three years in this job, until he became the senior development officer for the Kitikmeot region. Thanks to his leadership, he developed the Kitikmeot Recreation Association and connected the community recreation coordinators to Sport North and the NWT Parks and Rec Association, which he helped form.
In 1991 he moved to Inuvik to be the senior recreation development officer, and then he moved to Hay River to the same job, and finally to Yellowknife at the headquarters where he was:
● instrumental in assisting with the Directions for the 90s conference which set policy direction for sports and recreation for a decade;
● instrumental in the development of GNWT's Traditional Inuit and Dene dog mushing coaching series;
● instrumental in the development of Canada–NWT bilateral funding for implementation of the Canadian Sports Policy;
● instrumental in assisting Nunavut with the creation of the sports and recreation branch and the lead-up to division in 1999;
● instrumental with the 1998 and 2002 studies on the social benefits of the Arctic Winter Games; and
● instrumental in the 2000s Direction Conference which helped shape GNWT policy for years to come.
In 2003, Chris was a recipient of the NWT Honourary Life Membership Award, recognizing him for all his great work.
Mr. Speaker, April 22, 2003, Chris and his wife, Jane Wilson Szabo, moved to Edmonton.
During this time with the Alberta government he was a key contributor to the Framework for Recreation in Canada – Pathways to Well-being; helped plan the 2011 National Recreation Summit; attended all six Parks Forums hosted by the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association; and volunteered on a number of association committees.
Mr. Speaker, at this point in time I wish to seek unanimous consent to finish my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
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Passing Of Former Colleague And Friend Chris Szabo
Members’ Statements
Shane Thompson
Nahendeh
As Bill Wells said, "Chris was a proactive visionary for recreation and parks in Alberta and he had an impact nationally." This is true for his work he did for the recreation system in the NWT and Nunavut, too.
In 2015 the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association nominated Chris for the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association Award of Merit, which he received that fall. He is survived by his sister, his three brothers and their families. He was predeceased by his wife, Jane, and his parents, John and Jeannette.
A memorial mass will be held on Friday, March 31, 2017, at 10:30 at the Annunciation Catholic Church in Edmonton, Alberta. He will be sadly missed. Please join me as we pass on our condolences to his family. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Passing Of Former Colleague And Friend Chris Szabo
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Our condolences to the family as well. Masi. Members' statements. Member for Hay River North .
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Mental Health Services In Hay River
Members’ Statements
R.J. Simpson
Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one out of every five Canadians is facing mental health problems or illnesses today. Nearly half of the population will experience such issues at some point in their life. These numbers are even higher in the NWT. There are countless more statistics about mental health that I could quote, but I’m not going to. Mental health is about people, not numbers, and I feel confident saying that most people have either battled or are battling mental health issues, or know the struggles of someone close to them who is. I don’t think I need to convince anyone of the importance of doing everything we can to eliminate mental illness to the greatest extent possible.
That’s why I’m so frustrated with the state of mental healthcare in the territory, and in Hay River in particular. I’ve heard that, if you had mental health issues 10 years ago, you were lucky to be there because the services provided were excellent. However, Mr. Speaker, I’ve heard too many times from too many people that accessing mental health services in Hay River now can be a nightmare, frankly.
Anyone who’s been to counselling knows that it’s not a pleasant experience, especially the first time when you have to open up to a stranger and dig up all the things you try to avoid thinking about. In Hay River, we always have good counsellors; the problem is they’re usually not there for long. For some reason, despite the generous pay, people don’t want to stay. That means that those seeking help are forced to tell their story, from the beginning, to new people, over and over again.
Too often, this means that our residents do not receive adequate treatment and end up accessing emergency services because there’s nowhere else to go. We’re actually lucky to have permanent doctors in Hay River who are well versed in mental health issues, but issues arise again when these doctors refer patients in crisis to a psychiatrist. It’s my understanding that such emergency referrals are to be carried out within 24 hours, yet I’ve heard multiple cases of this taking weeks, contrary to GNWT policy.
When residents do arrive in Yellowknife for a session with a psychiatrist, they face further obstacles. They must once again open up to a stranger who, after meeting them for only an hour and a half, will have a major impact on the future of their treatment, and ultimately their well-being. After this emotional 90-minute session, which leaves many patients drained and in tears, they are shown the door, sent out into the world and back to the airport, with no place or time to calm down or recover. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
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Mental Health Services In Hay River
Members’ Statements
R.J. Simpson
Hay River North
Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t want to malign any of our healthcare professionals, but I’ve heard again too many times that patients do not feel that their issues are validated by the psychiatrists in Yellowknife, and patients often leave not only feeling more helpless, but also insulted.
Mr. Speaker, I haven’t even touched on the legwork that those seeking treatment are required to do just to access mental health services. There are countless phone calls to make and forms to fill out, with no one person they can look to to show them what needs to be done. They have to wade through a bureaucratic nightmare and become tireless advocates for themselves, just to receive treatment. This is not right, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I mentioned earlier that there was a time when Hay River had excellent mental health services, so I know that we can provide those services again, both in Hay River and in Yellowknife, but changes need to be made. I will have questions for the Minster of Health at the appropriate time. Thank you.
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Mental Health Services In Hay River
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .
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Mental Health Services In Hay River
Members’ Statements
Tom Beaulieu
Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to move item 11 on the orders paper, replies to budget address. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Unanimous consent granted
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Mental Health Services In Hay River
Members’ Statements
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Item 11, replies to budget address. Member for Sahtu .
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Mr. McNeely's Reply
Replies to Budget Address
Daniel McNeely
Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week the Minister of Finance presented the 2017-18 GNWT budget. Welcome to the land of lost dreams and lost per diems. It's not what I would describe this submission. Mr. Speaker, compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Policy by maintaining an AA1 credit rating through prudent sound financial management are fundamental principles of forecasting the best suitable O and M program and modest debt realization plan for the people of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, our legislative directives must echo practical and physical attentive management. The pending budget is a reflection of this. The GNWT, with its competitive credit status, competitive taxation regimes, resource development potential, and abilities for diversification only must come to reality on what it possesses. One example we see is the approximate 90,000 visitors visiting our pristine attractions through the tourism sector.
Borrow to spend. Mr. Speaker, the notion you should borrow your maximum allowable ceiling to support program service delivery is a recipe for insolvency. Through meaningful departmental reviews on efficiencies we enhance maximization on value for program and service deliveries. If we can reduce by 1 per cent on efficiencies we will see over $100,000 in savings.
Mr. Speaker, the majority industry drivers to our economy are government, mining, construction, and tourism. These industries are supported by the supply chain vendor community, another economic contributor to the NWT economy. Combining these labour-intensive industries contributes an excess of 40 per cent of our NWT GDP. The recent announcements of the all-weather roads to Whati, to Canyon Creek forecast a labour allowance of 30 per cent that will contribute $70 million to the workforce community and training individuals.
Mr. Speaker, we must take and continue the national and international competitive approach for the potential resource productions that lie within our region. This is done by marketing strategy and strategic planning, through presentations and advertisements.
Mr. Speaker, we are in a post-production era for remaining opportunities. The abundance of resources identified by the many studies truly reveals the North's potential. Production means royalty revenues over and above TFS. With our aging infrastructure, it is of vital importance to position our physical capabilities for replacements and upgrades, Mr. Speaker; aging infrastructure. Our children should not experience going from one building to the next for continuation of education curricular studies. This can be experienced in the community of Colville Lake. Our youth deserve and expect better programming and services.
Consensus government means to work in collaboration with the territorial stakeholders, especially in the isolated smaller communities. The Sahtu region struggles with some of the highest and lowest income and unemployment rates and the highest cost of living, similar to other areas of the NWT.
I quote a study done last year which states, "Cost of living and inequality: heavy reliance by communities in the Sahtu region on imported food and fuel contributes significantly to the high cost of living. The cost of living in the NWT has been higher than the Canadian average for six of the past eight years, particularly in the Sahtu communities. Yellowknife residents pay 10 per cent more for the same food basket than Edmonton residents, while community residents of Tulita, Deline, and Norman Wells paid 50 per cent more than those in Yellowknife."
Mr. Speaker, Northerners are resilient. The North produced one of Canada's unique hydrocarbon oil fields, low in sulphur, sweet crude; in fact, so lucrative it was not included in the devolution agreement. This gold mine was founded by "Tommy the Ox," as my associate Member last year made so eloquently in his presentation, a prime example that agriculture and industry can work in harmony with each other. This proven history innovation only adds to homeland food security as identified in our agricultural strategy.
Mr. Speaker, guarantee the implementation effectively for all the foregoing analysis and, in my views, I will be supporting this budget. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Last of all, consider government conventions. Point number three: open and respectable communication between all Members is the most central feature of consensus government. While it is important to reach unanimous agreement on all issues, the opportunity for all Members to have meaningful input into the important decisions is fundamental. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
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Mr. McNeely's Reply
Replies to Budget Address
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Replies to budget address. Member for Great Slave .
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Mr. Abernethy's Reply
Replies to Budget Address
Glen Abernethy
Great Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the MLA for Great Slave to lend my support to the budget in front of us today.
I have been in the Assembly for about 10 years and I have gone through 10 budget exercises and, every time we have gone through a budget in this Legislative Assembly in the last 10 years, there has been some give and there has been some take. There has been working together long hours into nights to work out ways to meet the needs of all Members on both sides of this House to make sure that we have the best budget possible in front of us. I am confident that with this budget, as with every other budget that has come in front of this House for the last 10 years, the same will occur.
I say that, but I also register some frustration that I am having with this particular budgeting process. In my 10 years, Mr. Speaker, I have never seen a budget process where there has been such resistance to the budget and drawing of such incredibly hard lines. In the media last week, there was a press release where it basically indicated that, unless the items that are demanded are included in this budget, there will be no movement. I find that frustrating as an MLA, Mr. Speaker. I find that frustrating as a resident.
As a Cabinet Minister, I also find that frustrating, but I listened very carefully to the comments of all the Members of this House and there is clearly frustration on their side, as well. I can promise you that there is frustration on this side. This is consensus government, Mr. Speaker. Consensus government is not about everybody agreeing. Consensus government is about everybody having the opportunity to be heard, listened to, and understood. There will be disagreements, Mr. Speaker. We can't have a system where there isn't disagreement. I would, in fact, be worried about a system where everybody agreed on everything.
I really appreciated the comments that many of the Members made about some of the give and take that has occurred. There has been some give and take to this point. Mr. Speaker, I am privy to the same letters that all the Members are privy to, coming back and forth between committees and Cabinet, and I have seen letters from Cabinet indicating significant movement, $4.5 million in reductions taken off the table based on solid input, advice, and guidance from the Regular Members. I have also seen the inclusion of $14.5 million in new initiatives, items that have come up as part of our mandate.
Yes, 911 was not specifically in our mandate, but I would say we are hard-pressed not to find or believe that 911 is clearly something that is important to the people of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, we all must work together to find a resolution and solution to this budget. We must back off hard lines, and we must work together. I do say that, recognizing, as I said, there are a couple of areas of frustration that I have experienced in listening to the statements, and I once again applaud the Members in bringing their concerns forward and working with us to resolve them, but there are a couple that I need some clarity on. There are some questions that have arisen in my mind, as an MLA, based on the statements that have been made over the last couple of days.
On February 6th, according to the unedited Hansard, Julie Green , the MLA for Yellowknife Centre, said, and I quote, "We are looking at as many as 200 positions being eliminated this fiscal year and the next, creating a major hit to the public service and to the local economy throughout the Northwest Territories. As the reality of those losses combined with the slow-down of our economy sinks in, how do we reverse this flow of out migration?"
Mr. Speaker, I would love to seek some clarity on that comment. I am not sure where the number 200 came from. I have gone back and looked at letters and documents that are available to all Members, and what I have seen is that in 2016-17 there were 124 positions impacted. That was 56 employees, Mr. Speaker. Of those 56 employees, 40 were retained by the Government of the Northwest Territories. That means they were redeployed. They continue to work for the Government of the Northwest Territories. Five retired. Nine were laid off.
Ultimately, I agree with Members; we don't want to lay off employees. Employees are our most valuable asset, but we weren't able to find them jobs, and we do struggle with that. As a note, one remains impacted and one has yet to receive an offer because they were on a leave of absence. When they return, obviously, they will get one.
In 2017-18, Mr. Speaker, the budget we are talking about today, 65 positions are potentially impacted. It doesn't become official until the budget is approved or not, as the case may be. Thirty-six employees are affected. Eleven of those are eligible to retire. Twenty-one are potentially affected. Four of them have already been identified for redeployment should the budget pass.
Mr. Speaker, I have been an employee of the Government of the Northwest Territories. I have been an MLA. I have been a Minister. I am confident when I say that this government is committed to our most valuable resource, to the people and to the employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories, and I know through watching and being involved that this government will work closely with them and focus on their retention.
I would also just like to add a point with respect to staff complement in the Government of the Northwest Territories, both before and after the budget that is before this government and this Assembly for consideration. While there are reductions that affect staff, absolutely true, this budget adds 17 positions to the public service overall. The GNWT and its public agencies expect to employ 5,626 people in that number of positions over the next fiscal year, which is up from 5,609. This is a growth in the number of positions overall in the public service. So I appreciate the Member's perspective.
I hear her frustration. I am trying to understand the numbers that are being presented, and I would certainly love to sit down with the Member to see if she can help me understand where she is coming from.
Mr. Speaker, I have known Mr. Testart , the MLA for Kam Lake, for a number years. This is a man who is clearly passionate about politics and wants to do good for the people of the Northwest Territories, and is very interested in procedure. I respect him for all that he does for the people of the Northwest Territories, but I have a problem with a comment in his statement. I am seeking to get some clarity on that.
On February 2, 2017, in the unedited Hansard, Mr. Testart said, "During the first operation budget, we again saw a return to debt management and reductions as a driving force of the government's fiscal strategy to underpin all of its spending commitments. This in fact led Members of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning to label this budget an austerity budget, motivated by a reduction target of $150 million."
Mr. Speaker, I thought about this a lot and tried to understand exactly what was being said, recognizing that I believe the Member, as all Members, wants the same thing that Cabinet wants, which is an effective budget to meet the needs of the residents of the Northwest Territories. So, I went and looked up the definition of "austerity budget":
"An austerity budget is an attempt to significantly curtail spending in an effort to control public sector debt, particularly where the nation is in jeopardy of defaulting on its bonds."
It goes further, Mr. Speaker:
"The term 'austerity' is more likely to be used when government spending cuts and higher taxes occur during a recession or during a period of very weak economic growth. Austerity implies that spending cuts and tax increases are highly likely to have an adverse impact on aggregate band and economic growth."
I didn't feel and I don't feel, as a citizen, as an MLA, as a Minister, that what is being presented today is in fact an austerity budget, but I wondered what it was. So, I looked up the definition of "balanced budget":
"A balanced budget (particularly that of a government) refers to a budget in which revenues are equal to expenditures. Thus, neither a budget deficit nor a budget surplus exists (the accounts balance). More generally, it refers to a budget that has no budget deficit, but could possibly have a small budget surplus."
Now, in looking at the information that is available to the public, the GNWT is proposing to spend just over $1.7 billion on its operations in the coming fiscal year and another $266 million on infrastructure. That is about $2 billion that the government plans to spend in the next fiscal year. Most of it will go back into the NWT economy in the form of salaries for staff, contract services for residents, and purchasing with NWT businesses and companies.
This is a reduction, Mr. Speaker. There is no denying that. This is certainly a reduction. It represents less than a 0.04 per cent reduction from the previous year's spending, and the government, this Assembly, is dealing with revenues that are only increasing by 1.2 per cent. In this budget, there is growth, Mr. Speaker. We have seen an increase in the number of positions in the public service.
Mr. Speaker, the second part of the concern I have with that statement made by Mr. Testart is the continued reference to the $150 million target. As I said, as a Member, I am privy to the same correspondence as is shared with committee and Cabinet and, in a letter from the Minister of Finance on December 16th, it states clearly that we believe we can meet our fiscal objectives with the implementation of the proposed $101 million expenditure reductions and revenue initiatives.
This is a long way from $150 million, and it was my understanding that, at that time, the government of the day was clearly articulating that $150 million is not the target being utilized. Yes, Members are correct, during the budget planning process, $150 million was still on the table, but, based on the dialogue, discussion, and working with committee in the House, that reduction was moved from $150 to $100 million. They were made aware at that time.
Mr. Speaker, I also had some concerns with statements that were made by Mr. Thompson , so I wrote them down. According to the February 2, 2017, unedited Hansard, Mr. Thompson said, "Mr. Speaker, I am not saying that it is strictly Cabinet's fault or the Regular Members' fault. It is all our faults. We need to work better together. Mr. Speaker, lack of communication is a major challenge." After I wrote it down, I realized I actually totally agree with what the Member is saying. The Member is right. Our inability and our frustration to move forward with this budget is all of our fault. It is not one side or the other, and, clearly, we need to work better together.
When we first met at the start of this Assembly, we talked a lot about the importance of doing government better. We agreed that changing the way that the Assembly does business was one of our priorities. Strengthening consensus was one of the ways that we said we would do that. Strengthening consensus is an appealing idea that is easy for people to get behind. To make it happen, though, we have to know exactly what we mean by it, and we have to know what we mean by "consensus" to begin with.
The way I see it, Mr. Speaker, consensus is about hearing the voices of every Member in this House, no matter which side they sit on the floor. Consensus is about taking the best ideas, wherever or from whomever they come, and turning them into government policy. It isn't about implementing a one-sided and predetermined party platform like you would see in most other Canadian jurisdictions.
Consensus is about hearing what matters to the people right across the Northwest Territories and doing what is best for them. It is not about "getting the win" for one side or the other or for one point of view over another. Sometimes, once we've heard and debated all sides of an issue, doing what is best for the Northwest Territories means setting aside our individual preferences and priorities.
While that may be hard, the fact is that, when people of the Northwest Territories win, we all win. We should feel proud of every decision that we make together that serves our people with the best interests of the territories, whatever our individual views. Finding consensus on the important issues that face the Northwest Territories is an ongoing process. It takes time, and it takes work, sometimes hard work, for each of us. It requires us to be engaged in an ongoing conversation about what this territory needs and how we should address those needs.
As an Assembly, we have agreed to a formal process for carrying out that conversation and for making collective decisions. That process is established in documents like The Guiding Principles and Process Conventions of Consensus Government, in our committee structure, and the rules that govern debate. Our guiding principles say that consensus government is defined by the ability and willingness of all Members to work together within our respective roles for the collective good of the Northwest Territories.
One way we must make sure we are doing this is by working with standing committees through established processes, like we do in budgets every year. We recognize there is frustration. We recognize we have to work harder, but budget takes both sides working together, Mr. Speaker.
Well, budget day is not a bit of an event. It is a result of months of work and discussions between Cabinet and standing committees. That discussion begins each fall, when draft business plans for every department are shared with standing committee for review and analysis, something not available in party systems, Mr. Speaker. Ministers then meet with the appropriate standing committees to answer questions -- sometimes good, sometimes bad -- hear concerns, get input and suggestions on the government's plans for the upcoming fiscal year.
Recommendations from standing committees to add or cut specific items from the upcoming budget are often made as part of those meetings and continue to be discussed in correspondence and further meetings in the months leading up to the budget day. For this current budget, Cabinet received quality input and cautions for committee that resulted in important changes to the budget before you. On October 28th, the Minister of Finance wrote committee and indicated $4.5 million in reductions based on requests from committee would not be moving forward.
Also on that date, he indicated -- that is, the Minister of Finance -- the Cabinet would add $6 million in initiatives that would be added as priorities to consist with the mandate. There are a few more, but because they are specific to positions I don’t want to add concerns to residents in potentially what could have been impacted positions.
Overall, $14.8 million worth of changes. Budget banking is a balancing act, Mr. Speaker. There is always some need for more money to meet them and there are more ways and more wants on top of that. Finding a way to pay for essential services and central programs and some nice-to-haves and wants without breaking the bank is a challenge even at the best of times. It's even harder when times are tough and revenues are uncertain.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to mention the comment made by Mr. Cory Vanthuyne on February 7, 2017, in the unedited Hansard. It says, "Mr. Speaker, the Finance Minister has told us the government has a three-pronged fiscal strategy. Let me share those with you.
1. Increasing fiscal capacity by lowering our operating expenditures or increasing our revenues;
2. Discipline spending to ensure expenditure growth is aligned with revenue growth; and
3. Reducing our reliance on our line of credit as a way to finance the day-to-day operations."
He went further to explain what that meant in his perspective, and I really appreciated his point of view. I've known the Member for a long time, back in the days when I had Brian May hair and he had long, long blonde hair. Good times.
He made a further statement, Mr. Speaker:
We have objected strongly to this target. He was referring to the $150 million which Cabinet moved off from after discussions in the fall with committee, and these were objected for a number of reasons. The key one is that they are simply too severe. I for one do not believe that it is either responsible or prudent to attempt to wipe out a year-end cash deficit accumulated over a number of years and estimated over $300 million in the life of this Assembly. We have asked time and time again to find compromises. Maybe one of the other fiscal reduction targets would have been a suitable compromise.
Mr. Speaker, normally I would agree 100 per cent. I think the way the Member described it was sound. I think his points are valid, but as a Minister, as an MLA, I think it's important that we don’t look just in the one-, two-, three-year window; we have to look at the long-term benefits or impacts on this government. The reason I can't agree completely with what the Member is saying is in the budgeting we know things are coming. We know that by 2026 we have to put in 258 long-term care beds. That's $139,000 in operation costs per bed that need to be added to the books of this government.
Mr. Speaker, by 2026 -- and these numbers are based on today and will need to be indexed appropriately -- that's $35,862,000. We know that there are mine closures over the same nine-year period. We know forced growth is upon us. We know union increases are coming, utility costs are going up. Every 1 per cent in union increase is $8 million added to the budget line, and we know, unfortunately, that there are always unforeseen challenges coming.
Mr. Speaker, I support this budget. I don’t believe it's the best budget. I believe it's a good budget. I believe that, given how we have worked in the past, there will be some room for negotiation and move on this budget as time goes by; but, Mr. Speaker, if you're not taking flack, you're not over the target. This is consensus government, Mr. Speaker, and I believe firmly that we can and we should work together, move away from hard lines and find real resolution on meeting the needs of the people of the Northwest Territories.
I've said it to Members and I'll say it again: I don’t believe that solidarity for the sake of solidarity benefits the people of the Northwest Territories. This building needs to work together. We must find a way to work together to bring forward a budget that meets the needs of the people, and I think we're there. I think we need to work together, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
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Mr. Abernethy's Reply
Replies to Budget Address
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Replies to budget address. There appear to be no further replies to budget address for today, so we will return to item number 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Thebacha .
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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Louis Sebert
Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Thebacha resident and Fort Smith Town Councillor, Rashmi Patel.
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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Great Slave .
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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Glen Abernethy
Great Slave
Mr. Speaker, I'd like to acknowledge the following people in the gallery today: Cynthia Carroll, who is the chair of the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance; Margaret Whelan, the board member of the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance; and Denise McKee, who is the executive director of the NWT Disabilities Council and a constituent of the Great Slave riding. I'd like to welcome them to the Chamber today and thank them for their hard work developing the Canadian Autism Partnership Project. Thank you so much.
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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery, welcome to our proceedings. It's always great to have an audience. Masi. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nahendeh .
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Question 537-18(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Operations
Oral Questions
Shane Thompson
Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today the Minister of Housing presented a progress statement on NWT housing. So in one of her statements she goes on to talk about moving vacant units into three-bedroom four-plexes. Can the Minister please provide this House what communities she's looking at doing it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Question 537-18(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Operations
Oral Questions
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation.
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Question 537-18(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Operations
Oral Questions
Caroline Cochrane
Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently within the fiscal year, we're looking at doing the four-plexes specifically for single people to address homelessness in the communities of Fort Simpson, Behchoko, and Aklavik.
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Question 537-18(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Operations
Oral Questions
Shane Thompson
Nahendeh
I thought it was something new. I knew about that, so I apologize. I thought we were looking at something new. Mr. Speaker, she goes later on to talk about demolition that is happening in the community. Does the corporation have a scheduled plan, because I've been talking about three houses in Fort Liard for a number of times and they've gone for sale and that. So now does the government actually have a plan that they're actually going to be able to share with us, when we're going to see these implemented?
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Question 537-18(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Operations
Oral Questions
Caroline Cochrane
Range Lake
I'd first like to address the first comment that was made in stating that this report was a report of what we've done up to this last year, up till now. So it's not about something new, although we have discussed that we will be looking at the last region, which is the Sahtu, within the next fiscal budget, so I haven't forgotten the Sahtu.
The other thing that we're talking about, the question that the MLA had asked me was about the surplus units, so yes we have a plan. We had committed that we would be doing 50 within this current fiscal year and 50 within the next. We had 101 vacant surplus units totally. We have decided that as many of those units will be sold as possible that are able to be sold that are still able to be renovated to live in. So we're in the process of trying to sell them still. We have been demolishing some of the units that have no use at all.
We will continue to do that, and I am hoping that within the survey results there'll also be some more creative ideas such as hopefully things like how can we use the materials, how can we support employment, those kind of ideas that I'm hoping will come out before we get rid of all of these surplus units.
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Question 537-18(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Operations
Oral Questions
Shane Thompson
Nahendeh
I thank the Minister for her answer. It still didn’t really give me a plan. We're going to get rid as many as we can, and it's unfortunate because I know in Fort Liard we've been trying to get that information from the Minister. Later on she talks about the importance of the local housing authorities in the communities of Fort Liard, Gameti, and Whati and people can go speak to the maintenance officers who might be there. So can the Minister please advise this House when these positions will be filled? Because in Fort Liard I know the housing manager is there, and I appreciate the government for doing that, but the maintenance officer is not there. So when will that position be filled?
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Question 537-18(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Operations
Oral Questions
Caroline Cochrane
Range Lake
In regards to the surplus units that the Member brought forward before he asked the question, if he would like to contact me we can provide a detailed list to any Member. In fact, I've done that for other Members here already on the surplus units that are in their communities, how many are up for sale and how many are to be demolished. Like I say, I have done that for other Members and I'm willing to extend that to all Members if they would like that.
The other thing on the local housing organizations in the new communities, we have job offers open and it's just the process. So I can't actually give a timeline on when positions would be filled because there is a process, again. You put the job offer out, you advertise it, people apply for the position. If there's a suitable candidate, we offer the position; we have to go internal first. We have to wait for the appeal process that can be closed. So to give an actual defined date on when somebody will be in the seat is something I cannot do.
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Question 537-18(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Operations
Oral Questions
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh .
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Question 537-18(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Operations
Oral Questions
Shane Thompson
Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for her answer. Just for the record, she has given me this information and the houses are still there. They still haven't been demolished and that. I appreciate that we're going to be doing this sometime hopefully by the end of this term. It will help the community.
My final question is: in regard to the Fort Liard Housing Authority, are they going to have a board? Presently in other communities they have a board. In Fort Simpson they have a board. So I'm trying to figure out, with the new local housing organization, will we have a new board or will they have to still report out of Fort Simpson? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Question 537-18(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Operations
Oral Questions
Caroline Cochrane
Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The community of Fort Liard actually at this point hasn't really come forward. We've had one individual from the community who has asked to have a board. If the community is interested in having a board, then we would be more than willing to provide that for the community, but we would like the community to come forward, more than one single individual, to express their desire to have a board. Once we get the community on board, then we're more than willing to provide that.
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Question 537-18(2): Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Operations
Oral Questions
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North .
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Question 538-18(2): Proposed Aurora College Programming Reductions
Oral Questions
Cory Vanthuyne
Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and they are with regard to the recent announced closing of Aurora College's Teacher Education Program and the social work program. I'm wondering: how does the Minister in fact see the department meeting the goals of Skills 4 Success and the requirements of our mandate in the absence of these programs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Question 538-18(2): Proposed Aurora College Programming Reductions
Oral Questions
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment .
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Question 538-18(2): Proposed Aurora College Programming Reductions
Oral Questions
Alfred Moses
Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department will be continuing to work with the college and other post-secondary partners to ensure that program is better aligned with the needs of the labour markets. We're also reviewing the Student Financial Assistance program to see how it might be used to incent and encourage NWT residents to pursue post-secondary education that is aligned with in-demand occupations and the needs of the labour market.
The Skills 4 Success document is also being used in high schools, and we sent it to all the schools across the Northwest Territories so that information can be shared with future post-secondary students. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Question 538-18(2): Proposed Aurora College Programming Reductions
Oral Questions
Cory Vanthuyne
Yellowknife North
Thank you to the Minister for his reply, and he may have partially answered my next question. How is the Department of Education, Culture and Employment working with the current and prospective students to address their concerns and support their educational and professional needs? Mr. Speaker, we recently know that some students wrote to us with these concerns, and so I'm wondering how the department will work with them specifically to support their needs.
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Question 538-18(2): Proposed Aurora College Programming Reductions
Oral Questions
Alfred Moses
Inuvik Boot Lake
I mentioned a little bit of this yesterday, as well. The current students of these programs will be given the opportunity to complete their program at Aurora College, but there will be no new intakes, as was mentioned. Former students will also be given the opportunity to complete these programs. Aurora College staff are providing students with the support staff they need to ensure that they have the best chances for successful completion of the program that they're in. Potential future students, as I mentioned yesterday, we are meeting with our access program students to help them align with the best career path moving forward with them as well.
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Question 538-18(2): Proposed Aurora College Programming Reductions
Oral Questions
Cory Vanthuyne
Yellowknife North
Again, thank you to the Minister for his reply. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to know: how is the Department of Education, Culture and Employment growing and enhancing post-secondary options in the North, particularly if these two programs are to be eliminated?
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Question 538-18(2): Proposed Aurora College Programming Reductions
Oral Questions
Alfred Moses
Inuvik Boot Lake
We're expanding opportunities for post-secondary education that includes other institutions such as Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning, as well as College nordique, and some of these will be addressed as government looks at developing a new overarching legislation for post-secondary education in the Northwest Territories.
MR.
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Question 538-18(2): Proposed Aurora College Programming Reductions
Oral Questions
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North .
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Question 538-18(2): Proposed Aurora College Programming Reductions
Oral Questions
Cory Vanthuyne
Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, lastly I'm wondering: can the Minister make a commitment to provide the figures on historical enrollment and graduation for these two programs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Question 538-18(2): Proposed Aurora College Programming Reductions
Oral Questions
Alfred Moses
Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we can commit to getting that information for the Member and all Members on the other side of the House. I just want to let the Members know that we also have approximately 33 NWT students attending teacher education programs outside the Northwest Territories, and we continue to support them through our Student Financial Assistance program; 13 are coming from communities outside Yellowknife, so we're getting students from the communities outside Yellowknife attending this. Additionally, there are approximately 19 NWT students presently attending social work programs outside of the NWT and eight coming from communities outside Yellowknife.
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Question 538-18(2): Proposed Aurora College Programming Reductions
Oral Questions
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho .
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Question 539-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Implementation
Oral Questions
Michael Nadli
Deh Cho
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what we've been seeing for some time is a major initiative from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment in terms of the roll-out of the junior kindergarten initiative. I'm seeking some clarity and trying to give an opportunity to the Minister to provide some answers that could be very resolute, and given the confidence that this is going to go forward despite the ongoing issues and concerns.
My first question is: can the Minister immediately follow up with the chief and council at the Hay River Reserve to make sure they are appropriately included in all future discussions on JK? Mahsi.
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Question 539-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Implementation
Oral Questions
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment .
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Question 539-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Implementation
Oral Questions
Alfred Moses
Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe staff from my department had met on November 29th with the Aboriginal Head Start staff, staff at the K'atlodeeche School, as well as the school principal. I myself wrote a letter to the chief of K'atlodeeche First Nation and had asked him if he wanted to meet to address some of the concerns that he was asking. I believe I sent that letter out last month in January. I can look at the date again and see if we can set up a meeting.
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Question 539-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Implementation
Oral Questions
Michael Nadli
Deh Cho
My second question is: what are the current pupil/teacher ratios at the Chief Sunrise and Deh Gah Schools?
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Question 539-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Implementation
Oral Questions
Alfred Moses
Inuvik Boot Lake
I don't have that detailed information in front of me right now, but I can commit that I'll get that information and I will share it with the Member.
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Question 539-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Implementation
Oral Questions
Michael Nadli
Deh Cho
This is my final question: how is the department ensuring that boards, education councils and education authorities are being kept up-to-date with all the recent changes so that these organizations can keep parents up-to-date?
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Question 539-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Implementation
Oral Questions
Alfred Moses
Inuvik Boot Lake
As soon as the Budget Address was completed last week, our staff made phone calls to all the superintendents and was working out a plan moving forward. Of course, with the new funding that was announced, we're going to want to meet and talk with all the school boards and have them present information to parents as well. We, as a department, are going to be sending out letters to all parents as well who have junior kindergarten students, as well as information packages.
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Question 539-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Implementation
Oral Questions
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre .
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Question 540-18(2): Student Instructional Hours In Schools
Oral Questions
Julie Green
Yellowknife Centre
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment . The Minister has yet to brief the Members of the Standing Committee on Social Development on the MOU reached with the teachers. These are important changes, and the Minister is not making allies by ignoring it. That said, let us get into the rationale for this decision. What is the policy basis for cutting instructional hours? Thank you.
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Question 540-18(2): Student Instructional Hours In Schools
Oral Questions
The Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Minister of Education, Culture and Employment .
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Question 540-18(2): Student Instructional Hours In Schools
Oral Questions
Alfred Moses
Inuvik Boot Lake
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Currently, NWT has the highest student-teacher instructional hours in all of Canada. Our teachers, on average, are working about 52 hours a week. Research has suggested that increasing teachers' professional learning and strengthening a teacher's instructional practice is one of the most powerful and effective ways to ensure quality teaching and significantly improve student achievement. I believe there isn't a policy that we have to address. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Question 540-18(2): Student Instructional Hours In Schools
Oral Questions
Julie Green
Yellowknife Centre
I note that is not a policy basis. That is some research that he is quoting from there. That said, what other options were considered to reduce teacher workloads, such as using more teachers' assistants or increasing administration staff rather than cutting instructional hours?
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Question 540-18(2): Student Instructional Hours In Schools
Oral Questions
Alfred Moses
Inuvik Boot Lake
As I've said in the House on many occasions, we do give $152 million to all the education boards. How they choose to budget line items within those dollars that we give them is up to the education board.
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Question 540-18(2): Student Instructional Hours In Schools
Oral Questions
Julie Green
Yellowknife Centre
The Minister has an unblemished record of not answering the questions, so I will plow on. Where will resources for the increased professional development come from?
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Question 540-18(2): Student Instructional Hours In Schools
Oral Questions
Alfred Moses
Inuvik Boot Lake
With the announcement, the NWT Teachers' Association, all the school boards, and our staff are working out a way to support our teachers in the schools, and this is going to be on a school-by-school basis, how they make those decisions.
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