Oral questions. Mr. Henry.
Debates of Feb. 6th, 1998
Topics
Further Return To Question 238-13(5): Policy Re: Meeting With Ministers
Question 238-13(5): Policy Re: Meeting With Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 615
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 615
Henry
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister for Education, Culture and Employment, the honourable Mr. Dent. I think it is accepted that this government over the past number of years has cut back on the amount of dollars that it has spent in construction activity. Over that period of time, I believe the NWT Construction Association is saying that we now have a shortage of skilled tradespeople in the Northwest Territories. My question to the Minister is, I want to know if he shares this opinion? What is his department doing about trying to get the number of tradesmen increased now that there is much potential with initiatives that the government is putting forward through P3 and so forth? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 615
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.
Return To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 615
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think we only need to look at the number of tradespeople that had to be imported to build the BHP diamond plant to recognize we could have used more tradespeople in the Northwest Territories. Looking at the future, we have projected fully one-third of all the new jobs we can expect to see in the territories in the next five years will require trades certification. This confirms the need for more development in order for our young people to find jobs. What is the department doing? Our sponsorship of Apprenticeship Week this year is one example of an activity we have undertaken to raise the profile of trades in the north. We are offering the Schools North Apprenticeship Program in which young people may start an apprenticeship while still in high school as part of the CTS modules. The Mine Training Committee has initiated a program called Mine TAP, which is an upgrading program to enable northerners who are not quite ready to enter into an apprenticeship to upgrade themselves
so they can enter into an apprenticeship. We have worked at improving, through our CTS modules, awareness among young people in the north of the opportunities that are provided through apprenticeship. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Return To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry?
Supplementary To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
Henry
Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, Mr. Dent. My question to the Minister is, are they seeing a trend which shows an increase in the number of tradespeople being produced or graduating each year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot answer the question because I do not know whether or not the number of graduates in the last year has increased. I do know that in the Northwest Territories we have over 19.5 apprentices per 1,000 people in the active job field, which is higher than any other jurisdiction in Canada. Apprenticeship in the north is a very strong career route for a person to choose. I expect from that number, we have a fairly good graduation rate. Most of the graduates from the Apprenticeship Program do find jobs and stay in the north. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.
Supplementary To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
Henry
Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I am sure the Minister is aware of the vocational trades centre pilot project here in Yellowknife. I was wondering if the Minister has any projections on the number of tradespeople this can, hopefully, bring into the marketplace? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I missed part of the Member's question. Could I ask to have it repeated, please?
Further Return To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Your third supplementary, Mr. Henry.
Supplementary To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
Henry
My question to the Minister was, there is a new program being started, the vocational trades centre pilot project in Yellowknife. It is a project to assist individuals with intellectual disabilities to provide training to them. Does the Minister anticipate this will also increase the number of tradespeople for the industry? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, any opportunity which increases the number of people who have access to the program will definitely lead to an increase in the number of successful graduates. While the Member was asking his question, I was able to find out that the increase in the number of graduates in the program is about 16 percent over the last year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Henry.
Supplementary To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
Henry
Thank you. My final question is, does the Minister's department support this vocational trades centre pilot project? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We would support any effort to improve young people's education and opportunities for employment. I cannot answer specifically whether we fund the project or assist with the funding for the project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of Nwt Tradespeople
Question 239-13(5): Shortage Of NWT Tradespeople
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.
Question 240-13(5): Yellowknife Office Space Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question will be for the Minister of Public Works and Services regarding the Yellowknife office space plan. Yesterday, the Minister confirmed the office space plan was initiated in January, 1997 and a rationale plan was agreed upon in July, 1997. In the Minister's statements filed in this House, he said that there were a variety of discussion papers. Could the Minister tell us if it would be correct, if the Department of Public Works and Services knew of the office space requirements and needs about a month or two before the rationalization plan was approved by the deputy ministers in July? Thank you.
Question 240-13(5): Yellowknife Office Space Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 616
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Antoine.
Return To Question 240-13(5): Yellowknife Office Space Plan
Question 240-13(5): Yellowknife Office Space Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 617
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, starting in January of 1997, yes, the Department of Public Works began to start looking closely at the Yellowknife office space requirement. Through meetings with the deputy ministers, they have determined what would be required and by July they had a fairly good idea of what long-term leases would be retained and we could do with the existing properties of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Return To Question 240-13(5): Yellowknife Office Space Plan
Question 240-13(5): Yellowknife Office Space Plan
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 617
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.