Mr. Speaker, a goal without a strategy is just a slogan and I would like to ask the minister on this plan that is being worked out, will there be input from the students with their housing needs, because, it is one thing to be able to rent a space but it is another thing to rent accommodations that are suitable? In some cases in Iqaluit, we have 5 and 6 people living in 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom apartments which is not acceptable. So my question to the minister is, will he be seeking input from the students affected by the housing other than talking to Mr. Todd about the situation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Debates of Nov. 28th, 1996
Topics
Supplementary To Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 30
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Supplementary To Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 30
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Dent.
Supplementary To Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 30
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a copy of a letter that was sent by the chairman of the Financial Management Board to the chairperson of the Student Housing Committee, a copy of which was sent to the member for Iqaluit in which a
commitment is made to seek advice from the Housing Committee as we work towards a solution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 31
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions, supplementary, Mr. Picco.
Supplementary To Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 31
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am quite aware of the letter that was sent and, as Mr. Dent has said earlier, this concern is not just with the people of Iqaluit. I am sure that letter did not go to the other MLAs in this House. So my question is try to bring forward to the people of the Northwest Territories and, as a member of the legislature representing the people of the Northwest Territories, is the reason for my question.
So my supplementary question would be, what is the process that you are going to put in place to secure this housing accommodation? For example, if there are no units to lease, as this problem came from the leasing which this government was dropping, will the government commit to build houses, extra student accommodations, or are we looking at leasing more student accommodations because the process of this government was to get out of leasing? So that is what I am trying to get at, Mr. Speaker. That is my question - what is the process he is talking about?
Supplementary To Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 31
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 31
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, this process is just under way. It would be premature for me to say what the results are going to be. I have directed, as I said, both colleges - east and west - at the board level, to come up with a process, to come back to me and make some recommendations as to how we should deal with housing in the communities where we have campuses. I will be happy to share the information with the members when we are further along in the process but, at this point in time, I cannot commit to one solution or another. All I have done is said that we must find a solution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 31
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Picco.
Supplementary To Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 31
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that was my point. As Mr. Dent just said, the process is just starting. The plan of this government to get out of leases has been ongoing for several months, and I think we should have anticipated this coming up. The accommodations for students for next year, for example, will increase twofold because of the Nunavut Implementation Commission's training plans in the east, and I am sure for the west. So my final supplementary question would be, he is going to be consulting with the colleges, will he be consulting with the students for their needs, for example, with the chairman of the student group in Iqaluit, and Fort Smith, and other regions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 31
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 31
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thought I had answered both of those questions by previously saying that there was a commitment made to deal with the committee for student housing at Nunavut Arctic College. But I also indicated that the process would be one that was done at the board level. The board members, remember, are public representatives. I have no doubt that they will find some way to make sure that the students have some input as to what the solutions should be. At the end of the day, their recommendations have to come back to myself, and I have to work with my colleague, the chair of the FMB to make sure that we can afford the solution that is proposed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Question 18-13(4): Housing For Arctic College Students
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 31
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions, Mr. Evaloarjuk.
Question 19-13(4): Postponement Of Construction Of Pond Inlet School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 31
Mark Evaloarjuk Amittuq
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct this question to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. In Pond Inlet, when we had a meeting with the Education Committee, the new school that was allotted to Pond Inlet was going to be postponed. Are they going to make it smaller? They do not want to have it postponed again, even though they do not mind that they made it smaller than the previous plan. As well as the gymnasium in the school, the school is too old, and it is not efficient and it could be closed down because it does not meet the standards any more, because of the age of the school. Maybe the minister can inform me as to what has been happening so far, as to the plans for the school. Thank you.
Question 19-13(4): Postponement Of Construction Of Pond Inlet School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 31
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.
Return To Question 19-13(4): Postponement Of Construction Of Pond Inlet School
Question 19-13(4): Postponement Of Construction Of Pond Inlet School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 31
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, subject to this legislature approving the plans, I believe, if I remember rightly, that the Pond Inlet school was in the five-year capital plan to proceed in the next year. We will have to wait until the budget is prepared and introduced, but, at this point in time, I am not aware of any significant changes planned for the school in Pond Inlet.
Return To Question 19-13(4): Postponement Of Construction Of Pond Inlet School
Question 19-13(4): Postponement Of Construction Of Pond Inlet School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 31
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Supplementary, Mr. Evaloarjuk.
Supplementary To Question 19-13(4): Postponement Of Construction Of Pond Inlet School
Question 19-13(4): Postponement Of Construction Of Pond Inlet School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 31
Mark Evaloarjuk Amittuq
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the same minister, even if it is going to be postponed, maybe he can use his authority as a minister, could he make sure that the postponement will not be used for that excuse? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 19-13(4): Postponement Of Construction Of Pond Inlet School
Question 19-13(4): Postponement Of Construction Of Pond Inlet School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 31
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 19-13(4): Postponement Of Construction Of Pond Inlet School
Question 19-13(4): Postponement Of Construction Of Pond Inlet School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 32
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, I was not aware of any plan to postpone the school. Obviously, any expenditure of this government has to be approved by this House. As long as things progress as we expect they will, I think that the capital plan does see that school proceeding next year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 19-13(4): Postponement Of Construction Of Pond Inlet School
Question 19-13(4): Postponement Of Construction Of Pond Inlet School
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 32
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mr. Henry.
Question 20-13(4): Position Reductions In The 1997-98 Fiscal Year
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 32
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, I know that there are significant job cuts proposed, as confirmed by the Minister of Finance in the previous statement in this House last session. Will the minister, even realizing that the draft budget plans have not been presented to the committees, advise this House, and the employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories as to the numbers of job cuts this government is proposing, so as to give all parties, employees, businesses, et cetera, a chance to make plans and adjustments accordingly? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause.
Question 20-13(4): Position Reductions In The 1997-98 Fiscal Year
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 32
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
I would like to ask the Member for Yellowknife South if he could rephrase his question. The Members in this House do not have in their possession the operation and maintenance budget. You have made reference to the budget that is coming up, the O & M document. Perhaps you would like to rephrase your question so that it does not make reference to...
Question 20-13(4): Position Reductions In The 1997-98 Fiscal Year
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 32
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last year, I believe there was approximately 450 positions lost to the Government of the Northwest Territories. The Minister of Finance, towards the end of last session asked, and I quote, "I think it would be fair to say that there is still going to be significant cuts in government that will include positions." Mr. Speaker, I want to know if the Minister of Finance will give some information to government employees and to businesses across the Northwest Territories, so that they can at least have some indication of what this government is doing as opposed to cuts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 20-13(4): Position Reductions In The 1997-98 Fiscal Year
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 32
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.
Return To Question 20-13(4): Position Reductions In The 1997-98 Fiscal Year
Question 20-13(4): Position Reductions In The 1997-98 Fiscal Year
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 32
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have indicated ever since I got this position, I want to be as open and as frank and as candid and as direct as possible to our employees and to the constituency at large as it relates to some of the cuts and the reorganization of this government. However, I would like today to be able to answer my honourable colleague's question, and I want to be clear that I am not trying to avoid it. I think at this time, it is my understanding in discussions with the staff, that I would be pre-empting the budget and I would be unable, at this time, to respond to my honourable colleague. Thank you.