I move that the committee recommends that the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, in consultation with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, assess the AABED program to determine where it might be enhanced or improved. I further move that, based on this assessment, the departments enhance the existing program or develop a new program to provide training for affirmative action candidates in economic development. The new or enhanced program should include an on-the-job training component. Mahsi.
Committee Motion 88-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 13, Carried
In the Legislative Assembly on November 8th, 1994. See this topic in context.
Committee Motion 88-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 13, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 858
Fred Koe Inuvik
Committee Motion 88-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 13, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 858
The Chair Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Koe. The motion is in order. To the motion. The chair recognizes the Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.
Committee Motion 88-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 13, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to make a brief comment on this. When the department created this program some time ago, it was doomed to fail because the department had no real experience in education. Furthermore, there were no adequate support systems in the department to help those students. I argued, unsuccessfully at the time, that that kind of training should be delivered through the Department of Education and through the college system.
But, the department was determined that they knew best how to deliver the program and nobody was going to tell them that they weren't capable of doing the training. In other words, Mr. Chairman, there was some argument about this. I know that this recommendation encourages the department to work in consultation with the Department of Education. Well, that was tried the last time and the Department of Economic Development ignored any advice that the department or the Minister of Education of the day had to give him.
So, I'm a little leery about suggesting that they review the program because, fundamentally, it is wrong. It should be delivered through our education system. It is not a skills, in-service type training; it is, rather, career training. And, if we allow all of our departments to set up their own little funny programs to train staff and their own little empires, the students are going to be neglected and the programs will not have successes, as we have seen here.
I guess I would prefer a little stronger recommendation than just to assess whether the program might be enhanced or improved. It should be cancelled and the Department of Education and Arctic College should be used to deliver this program. That's my opinion. I will rest with placing my views on the record. Ten years ago, my views were not followed by the Minister of Economic Development of the day. I know this Minister will be more willing to look at a new approach. Thank you.
Committee Motion 88-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 13, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 859
Committee Motion 88-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 13, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
November 8th, 1994
Page 859
An Hon. Member
Question.
Committee Motion 88-12(6): To Adopt Recommendation 13, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 859
The Chair Tony Whitford
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.
---Carried
The chair recognizes Mr. Koe.
Communication
Committee Members feel strongly that EDOs should have a thorough knowledge of the community they are hired to serve. They must be familiar with its culture and language. EDOs must be able to communicate effectively with the people in the community they serve. Compulsory cross-cultural training for EDOs is one way to achieve this objective. We have made recommendation 14.