This is page numbers 17 - 42 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 2nd 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 communities.

Topics

Further Return To Question 29-13(2): Status Of Nwt Architectural Legislation
Question 29-13(2): Status Of NWT Architectural Legislation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 29

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to address my question to the Minister of Health and Social Services. I would like the Minister to describe for me what his department's policy is with respect to the payment of rental arrears of social assistance clients who owe money to local housing authorities in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. I am not clear whether that question should to be the Minister of Education or the Minister of Health and Social Services that should be answering that. The question was directed to Mr. Ng's department. Can I get some clarification from the Premier? Which Minister should the Member be addressing his question to?

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That would be Mr. Charles Dent, Minister of Education.

---Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 30-13(2): Social Assistance Policy On Rental Arrears Owed To Lhas
Question 30-13(2): Social Assistance Policy On Rental Arrears Owed To Lhas
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the transfer of social assistance to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, the Department of Health and Social Services had taken the main estimates through the budget process before that. So when the transfer took place, there was a reduction in dollars. Part of that was to eliminate what are known as special benefits. These special benefits were eliminated because they were seen as not being available to the working corp.

So someone who was working at a minimum wage job, for instance, and might be earning no more money than someone on social assistance, didn't have the ability to get that benefit. That was the reason for its elimination.

Return To Question 30-13(2): Social Assistance Policy On Rental Arrears Owed To Lhas
Question 30-13(2): Social Assistance Policy On Rental Arrears Owed To Lhas
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Return To Question 30-13(2): Social Assistance Policy On Rental Arrears Owed To Lhas
Question 30-13(2): Social Assistance Policy On Rental Arrears Owed To Lhas
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Actually, the supplementary is addressed to the Minister of the Housing Corporation, so I will leave it.

Return To Question 30-13(2): Social Assistance Policy On Rental Arrears Owed To Lhas
Question 30-13(2): Social Assistance Policy On Rental Arrears Owed To Lhas
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Question 31-13(2): Status Of New School For Ndilo In Capital Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions

February 14th, 1996

Page 30

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to start out by thanking the honourable Member for Yellowknife South for distracting me at the end of the Members' statements. I didn't get a chance to make my statement.

---Applause

---Laughter

My question is to the Minister of Education. The previous Minister had indicated to the Yellowknives Dene First Nation that the Minister would direct his officials to help the Yellowknives Dene First Nation to acquire a school and a preschool. These officials were supposed to be working with them to do that. The reasoning behind this is when the children from Ndilo enter the Catholic school system, where most of the kids go, they are actually already about two years behind the kids who enter the school system there. As a consequence to this, they drop out early and we all know that when people drop out early, that increases your social assistance and increases the likelihood that people will become incarcerated. I understand that, to date, nothing has been done. I would like to know if the department intends to pursue this matter or if they have decided not to. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Return To Question 31-13(2): Status Of New School For Ndilo In Capital Plan
Question 31-13(2): Status Of New School For Ndilo In Capital Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe I saw a copy of the letter that the previous Minister sent. In it, I think there were two promises or two undertakings: one for day care; and, one to examine the possibility of getting a kindergarten to grade 3 school in the capital planning process for Ndilo. My understanding is that there has been some assistance provided to have a day care started in Ndilo. It is operating right now.

The other part of the process, the planning for a kindergarten to grade 3 school, is still something that needs to take place. I have already talked to my department officials about this issue and we will be involving the residents of Ndilo in the consultative process as we work towards this.

Having said that, Mr. Speaker, I have to remind the Member that we do have a considerable fiscal problem and capital dollars are, as always, scarce.

Return To Question 31-13(2): Status Of New School For Ndilo In Capital Plan
Question 31-13(2): Status Of New School For Ndilo In Capital Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Supplementary To Question 31-13(2): Status Of New School For Ndilo In Capital Plan
Question 31-13(2): Status Of New School For Ndilo In Capital Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the Minister may be mistaking a day care with a preschool. We were discussing starting a preschool, not a day care. A day care is something that was on the side, I suppose. I was not involved with that. I was involved in the discussions on the preschool and we were informed that we would be given some assistance in this matter. I don't know anything about the day care. I would like to know if the preschool is still being looked at.

Supplementary To Question 31-13(2): Status Of New School For Ndilo In Capital Plan
Question 31-13(2): Status Of New School For Ndilo In Capital Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 31-13(2): Status Of New School For Ndilo In Capital Plan
Question 31-13(2): Status Of New School For Ndilo In Capital Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be happy to discuss the issue in more detail with the Member. My recollection of the letter from the previous Minister did only mention a kindergarten to grade 3 and a day care. I should point out that at present, the department has no funds identified in any community or has no program available for preschool outside of day care. So I am not sure there was a commitment made. I will have to get a copy of the letter and sit down with the Member to review what the commitment was and where we can go to assist the band in this issue.

Further Return To Question 31-13(2): Status Of New School For Ndilo In Capital Plan
Question 31-13(2): Status Of New School For Ndilo In Capital Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. The time period for oral questions has lapsed. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Mr. Rabesca.

Further Return To Question 31-13(2): Status Of New School For Ndilo In Capital Plan
Question 31-13(2): Status Of New School For Ndilo In Capital Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

James Rabesca North Slave

Mr. Speaker, I would like to go back to written questions.

Further Return To Question 31-13(2): Status Of New School For Ndilo In Capital Plan
Question 31-13(2): Status Of New School For Ndilo In Capital Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 30

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for North Slave is seeking unanimous consent to go back to written questions. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Proceed, Mr. Rabesca.

Written Question 1-13(2): GNWT Staff Training
Revert To Item 7: Written Questions

Page 31

James Rabesca North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a written question for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

1) What is the amount spent in the current fiscal year on training GNWT employees?

2) What was the amount spent on printing the calendar of courses for this fiscal year?

3) What is the cost for instructors to deliver the courses across the NWT to government employees for this fiscal year?

4) How many staff are dedicated to this function?

5) What is the amount that will be spent in the next fiscal year for training GNWT employees?

6) Are there any plans to transfer training dollars to the communities as part of block funding arrangements to be used to train the communities to administer and deliver government programs and services?

7) Are there any plans to eliminate the in-service training program for government employees?

8) How many government employees participated in training courses this fiscal year?

9) How many senior managers participated in training courses this fiscal year?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Written Question 1-13(2): GNWT Staff Training
Revert To Item 7: Written Questions

Page 31

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 7, written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Mr. O'Brien.

Written Question 1-13(2): GNWT Staff Training
Revert To Item 7: Written Questions

Page 31

Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is it possible to go back to oral questions?

Written Question 1-13(2): GNWT Staff Training
Revert To Item 7: Written Questions

Page 31

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Are you asking for unanimous consent to return to item 6, oral questions? The Member is seeking unanimous consent to go back to item 6, oral questions. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. O'Brien.

Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 31

Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, I bring this issue up. Actually, I can't ask the question at this time without being removed from the House.

---Laughter

I will have to wait, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions
Revert To Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 31

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Enuaraq.