This is page numbers 1441 - 1471 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 know.

Supplementary To Question 661-12(7): Standards For Air Medevac Carriers
Question 661-12(7): Standards For Air Medevac Carriers
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Ms. Cournoyea.

Further Return To Question 661-12(7): Standards For Air Medevac Carriers
Question 661-12(7): Standards For Air Medevac Carriers
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, the issue of medevac services deals with services that will be required in extreme cases where the type of aircraft probably would be more centralized because of use and the requirement of highly sophisticated medevac technology. So, therefore, in general, the use of airlines or travel still rests with regional decision-makers. However, in terms of the intensive care part of the operation, when there is a need that is fairly sophisticated, this is what we're dealing with. But, it does not change the use of regional carriers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 661-12(7): Standards For Air Medevac Carriers
Question 661-12(7): Standards For Air Medevac Carriers
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, when Members reviewed the budget of the education boards earlier this year, it appeared on the surface that the budgets were essentially the same as for previous years. However, on closer examination, there were two factors which affect the real impact on school programs. Hidden in the budget are the reductions of 2.5 per cent of the budget and increases for forced growth. This means that for about the same dollars as last year, boards were dealing with more children, and there must be a negative impact on school programs when schools were asked to do more for less. In effect, the dollars per student have been cut, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to ask the Minister if he can explain how the different boards are dealing with these cuts to dollars per student in their budgets. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Return To Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This matter was actually raised by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake and I tried to explain to him during the budget session the purposes for which the reductions occurred. The indications are that there is a change in reductions in the formula, but the overall increase for education generally was about four and half per cent. The concern that the honourable Member has also raised is one we that was worked out by arrangement. We began the year with a ten per cent reduction and we ended up coming to an agreement on two and a half per cent. I know this matter has caused some concern with some of the boards, particularly those boards with a deficit in this year, so I understand the concerns the honourable Member has raised.

Return To Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1448

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the Minister understands the concerns, can the Minister indicate whether or not his department has taken any measures to address these concerns that have been expressed by many of the schools across the territories? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1448

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1448

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Not all schools across the territories have raised this as a major concern, but there has been a concern about the reduction of resources generally. On the other hand, some regions have indicated that they are satisfied with the increases in their budgets in other program areas. I just want to advise the honourable Member that when there is a change in the school-age population, we subsequently introduce a request to the Cabinet for increases in the resources to respond to the increased school-age population. So on one hand, one may believe there is no consideration, but we do consider it. There are a number of factors that have caused some concern in the regions. Unfortunately, in some cases, it is a result of overexpenditures. In others, it is a situation where there are more PYs in a particular region. It should be based on the formula already in existence. When we deal with additional population, we provide the resources once we know what the population increase is in each particular divisional board.

Further Return To Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1448

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1448

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recognize what the Minister is stating; however, the reality is there are some boards in a deficit situation. I look particularly at my riding and how it has affected and placed serious concerns on how this will affect the quality of education to the students who are being taught. What measures are the Minister's department taking to alleviate this fear to ensure that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is maintaining the same quality of education that it has granted over the years?

Supplementary To Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1448

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in the public meetings in Fort Smith about a month ago, I advised them that I would have the departmental officials work with the South Slave Divisional Board of Education. For the last year, we have been working to try to find solutions to the deficit problem. We have been working in conjunction to find program initiatives and, in some instances, funding program initiatives that were in addition to the fiscal resources that were provided for. So we are trying to

find ways to support and help the divisional boards that do have fiscal problems.

I have advised Hay River and Fort Resolution, in my recent visit with the Honourable Don Morin, that I would give updates and information on the formula financing arrangement, so we could understand the basis on which the formula is provided to communities. Based on that, we can ensure that the best support was given to the communities. We are interested in working with communities. I have said so for several years now. I would advise the Member that we will continue to work with the South Slave Divisional Board of Education to make certain that if there are any major problems, we will try to find ways to support that board, and any other board that finds themselves in a fiscal situation as a result of those reductions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Question 662-12(7): Reduction To Divisional Board Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Whitford.

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question I would like to direct to the Minister of Transportation. Just recently, the Minister announced the final takeover of the airports which includes Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Hay River and Iqaluit airports. These are Arctic A airports. I had raised the issue some time ago, Mr. Speaker, concerning the paid parking at the Yellowknife airport. It is quite inconvenient for the public, in some instances. There are several machines they have to use in order to enter the parking lot and pay their fee, including a change machine. When I raised the issue before, Mr. Speaker, I asked if there were other airports in the territories that had paid parking. Is Yellowknife the only airport that has paid parking?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 663-12(7): Parking Fees At Arctic A Airport
Question 663-12(7): Parking Fees At Arctic A Airports
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I believe my honourable colleague is correct. Yellowknife, in the centre of the territories, is the only airport that has paid parking. Thank you.

Return To Question 663-12(7): Parking Fees At Arctic A Airport
Question 663-12(7): Parking Fees At Arctic A Airports
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1449

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 663-12(7): Parking Fees At Arctic A Airport
Question 663-12(7): Parking Fees At Arctic A Airports
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1449

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister's department be looking at making the parking situation uniform with the Arctic A airports? Inuvik has the same type of parking as Yellowknife, yet there appears to be free parking there. So does Iqaluit, Hay River and Fort Smith. Will there be any change in the policy that will affect those other airports as well as ours?

Supplementary To Question 663-12(7): Parking Fees At Arctic A Airport
Question 663-12(7): Parking Fees At Arctic A Airports
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1449

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 663-12(7): Parking Fees At Arctic A Airport
Question 663-12(7): Parking Fees At Arctic A Airports
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1449

John Todd Keewatin Central

Mr. Speaker, it isn't our intention at this time to institute any additional parking fees in any of the airports at this time, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 663-12(7): Parking Fees At Arctic A Airport
Question 663-12(7): Parking Fees At Arctic A Airports
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1449

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 663-12(7): Parking Fees At Arctic A Airport
Question 663-12(7): Parking Fees At Arctic A Airports
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1449

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then I would ask a further question. Has the department considered removing the barriers that restrict parking in our Yellowknife airport? Will he make this more equitable?

Supplementary To Question 663-12(7): Parking Fees At Arctic A Airport
Question 663-12(7): Parking Fees At Arctic A Airports
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1449

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.