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.

Topics

Fred Koe Inuvik

Qujannamiik, Mr. Speaker. I assume there has been a lot of work going on with regard to the amalgamation of the departments of Health and Social Services. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services about the current status of the amalgamation of the two departments.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Cournoyea.

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June 12th, 1995

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, with regard to the headquarters organization and amalgamation, I would say that we're almost completed, that there is very little left. What we have to do now is determine how to work the two departments at the regional and community levels. That work still has to be completed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

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Fred Koe Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Who is doing the evaluation, or the work in trying to get the communities organized so they can amalgamate?

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Ms. Cournoyea.

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, the area where that particular function would be is in the community health area of the Department of Health and Social Services. As well, I have a number of other people working on it, primarily to get the so-called "show" on the road. The deputy minister is greatly involved with that, as well. Thank you.

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

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Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. There are many projects under way or in the planning stages in the regions and communities. There is a definite need for cooperation and coordination between the departments. In speaking to people who work in both departments, they seem to be waiting for someone with a magic wand to say, now you're one department, get at it. Is there someone in the regions, say in the Inuvik region, who is in charge of working on the amalgamation process?

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Ms. Cournoyea.

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I'm very pleased by the response we're getting from the regions and from the communities. They certainly have been very actively pursuing the department to get things done. There have been several meetings in the various regions and with interest groups as well, to determine how we're going to accomplish the amalgamation and the planning for these two departments. It was my intention that we do further work in putting together a plan of action to go forward at the regional levels. I haven't been able to do that, Mr. Speaker, at this time

because I've not had the time to dedicate some clear thinking time as we've been caught up in some of the meetings that we are having, which have been important to attend. So I don't have anyone clearly defined and assigned to the communities yet.

I didn't want to have the regions put in a situation where one part of the consolidation would feel that they were the lead entity and one would feel left out. It was my intention, as soon as we get some free time, to go myself with the officials to the regions and work out a plan. I know that the regions themselves are thinking about it and actively putting down their thoughts on how we can shortcut some of the bureaucracy that generally leads to tying up this type of initiative.

Mr. Speaker, I do have a great deal of support from my Cabinet colleagues to try to get the region working towards consolidation. I know that the communities themselves would like to know when they can move on their own initiatives.

Mr. Speaker, we'll do the best we can. I know summer is coming, but we don't intend to slow down the process because where some regions would use a certain time of the year as being appropriate to them, I think we can organize our time and our initiatives with those regions in order that it can accommodate the greater number of people possible in those communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Koe.

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Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier advise us when she envisages the amalgamation process being completed?

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Ms. Cournoyea.

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, as we knew, there was a lot of work to be done and that would have to be done over this year; there are some pilot projects that will be undertaken. The time frame for completion, I believe, is December 1995 with everything in place by April 1, 1996. Thank you.

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, questions. Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have to say -- and perhaps it wasn't fair that the Premier didn't get notice of the theme of today's question period -- that I did get the impression overall that there hasn't been a lot of progress made on long-outstanding issues like the long-awaited handbook; there hasn't been promised consultation with community groups on official languages funding. I know the Premier has very heavy responsibilities and very massive

responsibilities with Health and Social Services, as well as being the First Minister in the government. I would like to ask her -- out of sympathy for the heavy duty she has -- in light of the frustrations with official languages that she must be experiencing, is the Premier considering reassigning the responsibility for official languages to another Minister?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I believe that no matter if an individual had this portfolio all by its lonesome self, we would be faced with the same difficulties or challenges to implement such a significant program with so many different languages that are to be accommodated.

As the Member knows, quite a significant part of the language program has already been transferred to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. This role takes on the very significant area, the encouragement of maintenance and enhancement of languages where the fundamental role is to try to move to the community-based support. In fact, this responsibility is shared; however, I know that the honourable Member realizes that it's very difficult to please everyone given that the languages are at various stages and have various needs; whereby some languages are very developed and used on a day-to-day basis, other language groups are looking for other areas of support to make sure that even just the development of the language or the writing of the language is put in place. So, for anyone, it's not an easy task if you want to do it right. I believe that it will continue to be a difficult decision to see who gets the support, because there are limits to the amount of money that this program has in its budget.

Mr. Speaker, other than the sharing of this responsibility with Education, Culture and Employment and the other parts of the program, there was no intention at this time or in the remaining time of this government to make further changes. Thank you.

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, time for questions is now over. Item 7, written questions. Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My written question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Recently, Vote 4 Official Languages funds previously allotted to the very successful Inuktitut literacy program at Nunatta Campus, Nunavut Arctic College, which offered Inuktitut literacy training to every Arctic College student, has now been directed to the Nunavut Arctic College's interpreter/translator program.

Would the Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment please advise this House:

1. Who authorized this decision? 2. Why wasn't the college board or the college vice-president or the affected MLAs consulted about this significant change?

3. Does the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment believe that the interpreter/translator program is more important than the Inuktitut literacy program?

Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Nerysoo.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table Tabled Document 122-12(7), a letter from Mr. Daniel Cuerrier, president, La Federation Franco-TeNoise, Iqaluit, dated June 6, 1995, concerning tabling the Education Act of the Northwest Territories for third reading. Members should note the suggestions that are being made in the letter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 13, tabling of documents. Ms. Mike.

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tabled Document 123-12(7) are the resolutions passed during the Nunavut leaders' summit meeting in Gjoa Haven from January 19 to 21, 1995, to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.