This is page numbers 1279 - 1309 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th 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 education.

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Further Return To Question 594-12(7): Status Of Nwt Caterpillar Infestation
Question 594-12(7): Status Of NWT Caterpillar Infestation
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Ms. Mike.

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Yesterday during question period, the Minister for the department, when I asked him about the ADM for Nunavut and in response to other questions, mentioned that trying to plan and coordinate everything is a very difficult process. Does he agree that appointing an ADM for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment for Nunavut would help the department in coordinating this very difficult process that he mentioned yesterday, causing it to be more aligned with planning for Nunavut training and education? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can't say that that's the best approach to take, Mr. Speaker, because it could be that once all the plans have been agreed to -- both the strategic plan for Aurora College and the educational plan in conjunction with the divisional boards of education, and the human resource plan in conjunction with the Nunavut training group and our department -- that there might be an individual who should be responsible for ensuring that those plans are coordinated appropriately. So we may assign that responsibility to an individual to assume the coordinating role for responding to that particular matter. But it may not necessarily be an assistant deputy minister who would assume that role.

Return To Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1291

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Supplementary To Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister indicates, there are a number of interested parties in education and training for Nunavut. When will he get this individual in place so these interested parties can go ahead with planning in preparation for 1999?

Supplementary To Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just for the information of my colleagues, we already are in the

process of doing the planning. The problem is that we have not come to a conclusion on the planning. The result of that, Mr. Speaker, is that there are a number of questions that we've discussed with the divisional boards of education. I've had discussions with the Nunavut Arctic College Board. Within the next two weeks, we will be holding meetings between staff members on the matter of the college plan; and within the next several weeks, with the divisional boards of education and all the parties that have been involved, including NITC, here, in Yellowknife. So we will be able to have some sense of the direction that we then intend to go, once we've had that discussion.

That will also lead to a major forum. Our colleague, Mr. Patterson, who has been quite clear about this, said that there is a need for a conference. It is our recommendation that once we have a review of these particular plans, the report of NIC, we will then call a conference together this fall to bring all our partners together so we can agree on a plan of action. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Supplementary To Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, Nunavut Caucus met at the request of education divisional board chairpersons from Nunavut. We heard the concerns they raised, including the resolutions that were passed in the Nunavut leaders' summit meeting on education last winter. I'm happy to hear that something is being done, Mr. Speaker. However, from my understanding, to date, the divisional board of education has not been participating in planning for Nunavut training and education strategic plans that Education may be involved in. Who can be our point of contact, if is it not the Minister, for these interested parties? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to advise the honourable Members that we have been meeting on a regular basis. In fact, prior to his responsibility being assigned on the income reform review process, Mr. Conrad Pilon, the assistant deputy minister of culture and careers, was involved in the development of the NITC human resource development plan. So we have already been involved in that particular process.

At this particular juncture, Mr. Speaker, Mark Cleveland who is the assistant deputy minister has been involved in discussions in this area, along with meeting with Nunavut Arctic College to address this particular issue. So we already have a point of contact in the area of post-secondary training and human resource development. What we need to do is ensure that there is a coordinated, collective approach. In other words, kindergarten to 12, the adult post-secondary training, and then the human resource training, so we have a clear approach to the development of human resources in Nunavut. We are working on that particular matter.

The other component, Mr. Speaker, that needs to be considered in the issue of future departmental responsibility is how the department will respond to division. In other words, what we intend to do in terms of structure in Nunavut. That is all part of the transitional process we're talking about. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Final supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Supplementary To Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know Mr. Pilon has been actively involved with the NITC, but I believe the divisional board chairpersons have very little to do with Mr. Pilon. A topic of our leaders' summit meeting in Gjoa Haven last winter was that the NIC, the GNWT, NITC and Arctic College all have training money and there were duplications in these organizations in putting out training programs. The concern was to try to make the best use of the dollars that are available. That is the reason why the concern has been raised about who will be the point of contact and why there was a request for an ADM for Nunavut so everything could be realigned.

Is it my understanding, then, that the department is working to realign all of these duplicate training programs set in Nunavut?

Supplementary To Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is exactly what we are doing at this particular time. We appreciate the concerns that the honourable Members have raised; it was also, Mr. Speaker, our concern. We had a number of agents out developing training programs and initiatives. Again, I must say to the Members that the desirability of clear training responsibility for human resource development in Nunavut resting, for instance, in the hands of Nunavut Arctic College, has been quite clearly articulated by the Members of the Nunavut Caucus and, more specifically, by the honourable Member for Iqaluit on a number of occasions in this House.

We agree with the Member and we also agree with Members of the Nunavut Caucus that there has to be a coordinated approach. We have been working in conjunction with a number of these parties, have met with them on a number of occasions in the last year and have been working with them on the human resource development plan as well. So, we agree with the honourable Member that there is a need for a coordinated approach in this area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Question 595-12(7): Appointment Of Adm For Nunavut Education Issues
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment a question about the budget commitments of Aurora College. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow night there will be a public meeting in

Fort Smith to discuss the proposed new recreation complex. In the pamphlet that has been circulated by the community, it appears that $400,000 will be allocated from Aurora College's budget. Many of my constituents asked me whether or not Aurora College is, indeed, granting $400,000 towards the town's recreation complex, and I indicated to them that I would ask the Minister because nothing had appeared in the budget books.

I would like to ask the Minister if he can indicate to this House whether or not $400,000 has been committed from the Aurora's College's budget for the new Fort Smith recreation complex. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 596-12(7): Funding From Aurora College For New Fort Smith Recreation Complex
Question 596-12(7): Funding From Aurora College For New Fort Smith Recreation Complex
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There has been no formal commitment of $400,000 to the project, Mr. Speaker. In fact, in order for us to even consider it, there would have to be discussions and there hasn't been any discussions to date between the two parties, either Aurora College, the municipality or an agent on behalf of the community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 596-12(7): Funding From Aurora College For New Fort Smith Recreation Complex
Question 596-12(7): Funding From Aurora College For New Fort Smith Recreation Complex
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 596-12(7): Funding From Aurora College For New Fort Smith Recreation Complex
Question 596-12(7): Funding From Aurora College For New Fort Smith Recreation Complex
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That probably helps my constituents somewhat. The Minister stated that there have been no discussions between the two parties. Is he aware of a possible request to the board of governors of Arctic College for this funding? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 596-12(7): Funding From Aurora College For New Fort Smith Recreation Complex
Question 596-12(7): Funding From Aurora College For New Fort Smith Recreation Complex
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 596-12(7): Funding From Aurora College For New Fort Smith Recreation Complex
Question 596-12(7): Funding From Aurora College For New Fort Smith Recreation Complex
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can only advise the honourable Member that this particular matter was raised with me, but not in the context of supporting the initiative. They only said they would like to talk about it at some time. I can advise the honourable Member that there have been no discussions with the staff or president of Aurora College on this issue and there is no submission requesting the resources from the board of governors of Aurora College.

Further Return To Question 596-12(7): Funding From Aurora College For New Fort Smith Recreation Complex
Question 596-12(7): Funding From Aurora College For New Fort Smith Recreation Complex
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Koe.