This is page numbers 43 - 55 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 public.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Return To Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 50

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure that you can say it outweighs the regional balance. I am responding to direction provided by the board of governors. The board of governors are representative of the population of Nunavut, and they determined that they should make this recommendation based on public consultation which took place across Nunavut. So they heard in a lot of communities that regional balance for base-funded programming was seen as an important step in strengthening Nunavut Arctic College and making sure that it was seen as an institution that was supported throughout Nunavut much more equitably than was thought to be the case at that time.

Return To Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 50

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.

Supplementary To Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 50

Levi Barnabas High Arctic

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For example, Mr. Speaker, students from my riding of High Arctic, if they want to attend these transferred programs, it will cost the government at least 35 per cent more in the airfare alone.

Supplementary To Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 50

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 50

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not sure if this was the question, but while the Member talks about there being an increased cost for Baffin students to travel to the Keewatin or Kitikmeot campuses, I think that the Member needs to recognize that Nunavut Arctic College

is intended to provide education for students from across Nunavut. Those costs are there whether a Kitikmeot student travels to Nunatta Campus or a Keewatin student travels to Nunatta Campus or a Baffin student travels to the Keewatin or Kitikmeot. In fact, we have programs at certain campuses that are not offered at all of them.

The same is true with the western college. Aurora College does not offer all programs at all campuses and students have to travel from one region to another in order to attend some of the courses.

Further Return To Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 51

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.

Supplementary To Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 51

Levi Barnabas High Arctic

Mr. Speaker, a lot of the students of my riding of High Arctic are married. The college in Iqaluit has married accommodations. Mr. Speaker, has the Minister looked at this extra cost associated with funding of married accommodations with the transfer communities?

Supplementary To Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 51

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 51

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have, in fact, directed the college board to ensure that they advise me how accommodations will be handled. I have expressed a particular concern about the transfer to Cambridge Bay and the problem that there may be some lack of accommodation there. I have to wait until March 31st, which is the deadline I've given the college board, to find out exactly how they are going to respond to that concern.

Further Return To Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Question 45-13(2): Implications Of Transferring Nunatta Campus Programs
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 51

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. O'Brien.

Question 46-13(2): Request To Delay Rankin Inlet Tank Farm
Item 6: Oral Questions

February 15th, 1996

Page 51

Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in view of my Member's statement this morning regarding the hamlet of Arviat's press release and the apparent lack of financial details on the multi-million dollar Rankin tank farm project, I'm requesting that the honourable Minister consider delaying this project until all parties are in agreement pending a full cost-benefit analysis. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Matna.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Return To Question 46-13(2): Request To Delay Rankin Inlet Tank Farm
Question 46-13(2): Request To Delay Rankin Inlet Tank Farm
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 51

Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said yesterday, the government will be conducting a detailed briefing for all Members next week on this particular project and other projects. At that time, the Department of Public Works will show Members the exact costing of the project.

As for the status of the project, I've asked the Department of Public Works to conduct a review of all the concerns that have been raised by the Member and of his communities and come back to me with a recommendation on how to proceed with it.

Return To Question 46-13(2): Request To Delay Rankin Inlet Tank Farm
Question 46-13(2): Request To Delay Rankin Inlet Tank Farm
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 51

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. O'Brien, supplementary.

Supplementary To Question 46-13(2): Request To Delay Rankin Inlet Tank Farm
Question 46-13(2): Request To Delay Rankin Inlet Tank Farm
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 51

Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister of Public Works come back to the House with the results of this decision? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 46-13(2): Request To Delay Rankin Inlet Tank Farm
Question 46-13(2): Request To Delay Rankin Inlet Tank Farm
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 51

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Further Return To Question 46-13(2): Request To Delay Rankin Inlet Tank Farm
Question 46-13(2): Request To Delay Rankin Inlet Tank Farm
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 51

Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South

Mr. Speaker, yes.

Further Return To Question 46-13(2): Request To Delay Rankin Inlet Tank Farm
Question 46-13(2): Request To Delay Rankin Inlet Tank Farm
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 51

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Education. This is in relation to adult education. According to studies that the GNWT has done, the majority of aboriginal people drop out of school around the grade 9 level. As a result, many of those people usually go onto social assistance, and also they are more likely to be incarcerated and place a greater burden on our resources. I would like to see more emphasis placed on adult education so that we can help these people who have dropped out of school for one reason or another. It seems that some areas are more lucky than others as far as having base-funded adult educators in their communities, and other communities have to scramble to maintain an adult educator from whatever source possible and then to get allowances for their students. I would ask the Minister if there is any way that we can place adult educators in all the communities where the numbers of student warrant it. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Return To Question 47-13(2): Requirement For Additional Community Adult Educators
Question 47-13(2): Requirement For Additional Community Adult Educators
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 51

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is absolutely right, that we need to have a real priority on adult education in the Northwest Territories. I think that that priority has been demonstrated in the past couple of years with the $8 million that was put into the investing in people program across the Northwest Territories. I sincerely regret that the federal government has chosen not to renew that initiative with us.

I can assure the Member that I am sympathetic. I know, for instance, that 40 per cent of all of Arctic College students are adult students who are taking basic education courses in their home community. And I know that we do have a problem. We have only 35 communities which have base-funded adult educator positions. I am committed to working with the Standing Committee on Social Programs to discuss approaches to see whether or not we can find, within the budget, a way to manoeuvre some funding into a program like investing in people -- obviously, we won't have the same sort of resources to put forward there without the federal participation -- and to talk about adult education.

But as the Member knows, at the end of the day, the budget is calling a lot of the shots for us. It becomes very difficult for me to stand here and make a commitment to provide increased services in areas across the Northwest Territories. I will certainly do what we can and I'm willing to work with all Members to try and improve what we can offer to adults in need of this basic service. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 47-13(2): Requirement For Additional Community Adult Educators
Question 47-13(2): Requirement For Additional Community Adult Educators
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 52

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Supplementary To Question 47-13(2): Requirement For Additional Community Adult Educators
Question 47-13(2): Requirement For Additional Community Adult Educators
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 52

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In working with the Social Programs committee, I would ask that the Minister attempt to find a program that is a little bit simpler than the one that has been used in the past where it's difficult to qualify and many people do not want to go to upgrading if it means having to be on social assistance.

A lot of the students in Yellowknife, for instance, have said that I'm going to school to get off social assistance. I don't want to have the stigma of having to be on social assistance while I'm in school. So can we at least change the name of the allowances that the students receive instead of being on social assistance; call it some kind of an education allowance or some other type of income support. And can we make it a little bit simpler? I might suggest that we work with the people who are currently using Pathways' dollars to ensure that these programs are implemented in as many communities as possible. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 47-13(2): Requirement For Additional Community Adult Educators
Question 47-13(2): Requirement For Additional Community Adult Educators
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 52

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.