This is page numbers 183 - 213 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 5th 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 chairman.

Topics

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education. The community education council of Coral Harbour sent me a copy of a letter they had received from Mr. Ernie Comerford, manager of student services. The students just received this letter a few days ago, but the letter was written December 24, Christmas eve. This letter stated, "Please be advised that students who have applied for student financial assistance for the courses will not be receiving support as the course has not been accepted as post-secondary education." Arctic College has contracted an arts professor from the University of Calgary. The course has been recognized as a first year university course. How was it determined that this was not a post-secondary course? Thank you.

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 189

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am not totally aware of the specifics. But the indication to me is that the program that the honourable Member is referring to is not certifiable. In other words, there will be no certificate that is issued once this particular program is complete. One of the

requirements we have with regard to student financial assistance is any provision of that financial support is based on the fact that the resulting educational program is to be certified and the individuals certified. So, I believe that was the basis on which the decision was made with regard to student financial assistance.

Return To Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 190

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Supplementary To Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 190

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I don't know who is right then because I am told that there will be a certificate issued for that ten-month course. Will the Minister find out who is right and act accordingly?

Supplementary To Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 190

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 190

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, I will take note of the honourable Member's suggestion and as soon as I can resolve this matter, I will report back either way, so he is aware of the circumstances, conditions and reasons why the department has made the decision it has.

Further Return To Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 190

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Supplementary To Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 190

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Premier stated earlier this year that there is a need for more employment and self-sufficiency amongst the individuals of the NWT. Will the Minister of Education try to follow the policy of the Government Leader in trying to provide student financial assistance. They are taking an arts course and working to improve the quality of their arts and crafts work so they will be more self-sufficient. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 190

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 190

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I just want to indicate to the honourable Member, in his absence I did indicate to the Members in this House that this government and myself, as Minister leading the initiative, are trying to ensure and negotiate with the federal government a utilization of programs that are available to us that will allow this government, hopefully in future, to provide the kind of financial assistance to those students that the honourable Member has made me aware of. We are seriously taking the issue to heart. We will respond, through our initiatives, to the very issues the honourable Member has raised with us, on a more permanent basis. In fact, on a pilot project basis if that is possible.

Further Return To Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Question 124-12(5): Student Financial Assistance For Post-secondary Education
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 190

The Speaker

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Justice. Recently, Madam Speaker, I received a letter from the Minister of Justice, along with a document on family law reform. During the special committee hearings last year we were told that we could expect a joint response from both Social Services and the Department of Justice to the family law review. Members of the special committee were very disappointed that we didn't get that in this House in the fall session as originally planned, but we had been told that we could still expect legislative proposals by March 31 of 1994. I was just wondering if the Minister could advise whether as having now received this paper -- Family Law Reform -- from the Department of Justice, does this mean we can no longer expect a joint response from Justice and Social Services?

The Speaker

Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 190

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, this business with the family law reform, which you know had recommendations within the report that fall clearly within the mandate of the Department of Social Services, and some that fell to the Department of Justice. We have some difficulties in trying to come up with a cohesive report because both departments were writing their own respective responses to that. What we will try to do is in the end, after we have responses coming back from the public, from the different agencies and organizations with regard to the approach you were suggesting, the recommendations we're making within the Department of Justice that I suspect Social Services will do the same thing. Following that, there will be a lead department, probably Social Services, that will be trying to write a more cohesive response for consideration by the Legislative Assembly, once we come up with concrete legislative proposals. Thank you.

Return To Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 190

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 190

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Supplementary, Madam Speaker, to the same Minister. Given the overlap in the recommendations between Justice and Social Services to the recommendations from the family law review, the special committee was quite impressed that both departments were working together to try to come up with a joint response. I was a little surprised now to hear the Minister say that it looks like -- although he didn't answer clearly -- it sounds like the two departments are taking a completely separate approach to this.

In the fall, the special committee met with the combined group from both Social Services and Justice, and everything seemed to be on track. Perhaps the Minister could provide a little more detail as to when the process fell apart and why this House didn't hear about it before .

Supplementary To Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 191

The Speaker

Thank you, Mr. Dent. You did ask two questions within your supplementary, and you are only allowed one supplementary. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 191

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, it's kind of like talking about what happens in practice, I guess. My response was intended to reflect the fact that we have two departments that are trying to provide responses to one report. And that for some of us internally we felt that having two different sets of writers writing responses created some difficulties, but that's sort of an internal perception. If externally, there is no perception of that I'm grateful for that. Regardless, internally we thought there should be one lead department putting it together instead of working side by side. So that was more a comment of our internal workings and my own perception as a Minister.

I think, and I share the view, that the work we've done within the Department of Justice, the work that was done by the Department of Social Services is very good work. We're looking forward to the next round of consultation and the responses we get to the kind of proposals we've made and are circulating them now to the MLAs and the different organizations so we can sit down and actually draft out some concrete actions to take. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 191

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 191

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Minister touched on some information that I'm interested in getting a little more detail on. That is, specifically, could he advise the House how widely has this discussion paper been distributed now? For instance, could he list some of the groups to which it has been sent?

Supplementary To Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 191

The Speaker

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 191

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Madam Speaker, the family law reform was set up with some agencies and groups. It's primarily with the same groups that we've initiated contact. So I think it's with all the native organizations, the representatives of the Status of Women, the Native Women's, Pauktuutit, amongst others that we've maintained contact with and to whom we've sent our recent response paper back. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 191

The Speaker

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Question 125-12(5): Justice/social Services Joint Response To Family Law Reform
Item 5: Oral Questions

Page 191

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Supplementary, Madam Speaker. I think the Minister may wish to confirm some of the information. I have been told today that Pauktuutit has not yet received a copy of

this discussion paper, for instance. I believe he just mentioned Pauktuutit in his response to me.

Madam Speaker, could the Minister advise when we can expect to see a legislative action paper or proposed revised legislation that comes from this discussion paper presented to this House?