Debates of April 13th, 1999
This is page numbers 171 - 185 of the Hansard for the 13th 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 work.
Topics
- Members Present
- Item 1: Prayer
- Minister's Statement 31-13(7): Report On Cabinet Planning Session At Cli Lake
- Minister's Statement 32-13(7): Notice Of The Budget Address
- Minister's Statement 33-13(7): Addressing Priorities In Education, Culture And Employment
- Minister's Statement 34-13(7): Minister Absent From The House
- Member's Statement 88-13(7): Passing Of Larry Sittichinli And Don Storr
- Member's Statement 89-13(7): Stanton Regional Hospital Foundation Fundraising Campaign
- Member's Statement 90-13(7): Overdue Amendments To Statutes And Regulations
- Member's Statement 91-13(7): Consultation On The Road To Resources
- Member's Statement 92-13(7): Passing Of Jim Turner
- Return To Oral Question 36-13(7): Disposition Of Educational Board Surpluses
- Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
- Question 61-13(7): Youth Assignment Responsibilities
- Question 62-13(7): Support For Giant Mine
- Question 63-13(7): Awarding Of Transportation Contracts
- Question 64-13(7): Education Forum Recommendations
- Question 65-13(7): Housing Program Delivery In Nunavut
- Question 66-13(7): Agenda For The New North
- Question 67-13(7): Lahm Ridge Review
- Question 68-13(7): Legislation For Healthy Youth
- Question 69-13(7): Ministerial Forum On Student Financial Assistance
- Question 70-13(7): Education Forum Recommendations
- Tabled Document 28-13(7): Report Of The Conflict Of Interest Review Panel, April 8, 1999
- Motion 17-13(7): Extended Adjournment
- Bill 17: Appropriation Act, 1999-2000
- Bill 18: Loan Authorization Act, 1999-2000
- Item 16: Motions
- Motion 17-13(7): Extended Adjournment
- Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Further Return To Question 68-13(7): Legislation For Healthy Youth
Question 68-13(7): Legislation For Healthy Youth
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 182
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot specifically point to programs per se and unfortunately the statistics for smoking in the Northwest Territories are far above the national average. I am interested of course, if the Member has specific suggestions and recommendations that he would care to make in the area of encouraging smoking cessation or reduction, either be it through his legislative suggestion or other ways to do that. I would be very happy to consider that and try to add it to the mix.
At this point, we want to build on the work that has been done through advertising. There are efforts being made through sports and recreation initiatives to try to encourage young people not to smoke. There has been some success in southern jurisdictions, unfortunately in the north the statistics are still far too high. That is a challenge for us all to try to bring those statistics down and limit our costs. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 68-13(7): Legislation For Healthy Youth
Question 68-13(7): Legislation For Healthy Youth
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 182
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.
Supplementary To Question 68-13(7): Legislation For Healthy Youth
Question 68-13(7): Legislation For Healthy Youth
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 182
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, Mr. Minister, for that. My final question, Mr. Speaker, is to do with the availability of restricted movies or pornographic material to our youth. My understanding is, that there is no legislation in place that would restrict our youth from going into a video store to purchase a rental movie.
The Minister talked about working with other departments and he did identify that this may be an area that could be handled by the Department of Justice. Could I get a commitment from the Minister that in these get-togethers he would bring these issues and concerns to his Cabinet colleagues, in particular the Minister of Justice? When he is having these get-togethers to look at the possibility of some needed legislation in this area? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 68-13(7): Legislation For Healthy Youth
Question 68-13(7): Legislation For Healthy Youth
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 182
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 68-13(7): Legislation For Healthy Youth
Question 68-13(7): Legislation For Healthy Youth
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 182
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I commit to bring those issues, specifically the one on pornography, to the table of our next meeting of the social envelope Ministers. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 68-13(7): Legislation For Healthy Youth
Question 68-13(7): Legislation For Healthy Youth
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 182
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.
Question 69-13(7): Ministerial Forum On Student Financial Assistance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 182
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, some time ago, a committee of citizens went around listening to people about student financial assistance. They came back with a report and we have been expecting that several issues would have been dealt with by now as recommendations that came from that report.
Particularly, Metis and Inuvialuit students are being taxed on their grants where treaty and non-aboriginal students are not. Also, there were recommendations for higher tuition and more book allowances and other things like that. What I am wondering is, it has been quite a while now, Mr. Speaker, and is the Minister planning on implementing some of the recommendations of this report in time for the next school year? Thank you.
Question 69-13(7): Ministerial Forum On Student Financial Assistance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 182
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Miltenberger.
Return To Question 69-13(7): Ministerial Forum On Student Financial Assistance
Question 69-13(7): Ministerial Forum On Student Financial Assistance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 182
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As my colleague clearly identified, this is an ongoing issue that has been on the table now since 1997 and he and I in fact spent a considerable amount of time in committee on this particular issue.
My intention is to, in fact, see what can be done given the short time frame we have left to sit as a Legislature. I have a full briefing scheduled for Thursday and my understanding is that this issue, the whole package of student financial assistance redesign, basically ran out of time because there was no consensus on the issue that my colleague raised in regards to supplementary grants versus remissible loans. It is an issue that I would like to try to pursue with considerable vigour and try to see if I can move it forward, keeping in mind that we have maybe one session left after May. Thank you.
Return To Question 69-13(7): Ministerial Forum On Student Financial Assistance
Question 69-13(7): Ministerial Forum On Student Financial Assistance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 183
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.
Supplementary To Question 69-13(7): Ministerial Forum On Student Financial Assistance
Question 69-13(7): Ministerial Forum On Student Financial Assistance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 183
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister indicated that we might only have one session left after May. Could he indicate why it is important to have session before we get these changes instituted?
Supplementary To Question 69-13(7): Ministerial Forum On Student Financial Assistance
Question 69-13(7): Ministerial Forum On Student Financial Assistance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 183
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 69-13(7): Ministerial Forum On Student Financial Assistance
Question 69-13(7): Ministerial Forum On Student Financial Assistance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 183
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding was that initially the plan was for legislative change to the Student Financial Assistance Act and that they wanted to bring forward a package as opposed to piecemeal changes. That is my understanding, at this point, not having a full briefing. If it requires legislative changes, we have limited time. If in fact we can do other things, then we have more latitude. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 69-13(7): Ministerial Forum On Student Financial Assistance
Question 69-13(7): Ministerial Forum On Student Financial Assistance
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 183
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.
Question 70-13(7): Education Forum Recommendations
Item 6: Oral Questions
April 13th, 1999
Page 183
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education, Culture, Employment and Youth. I do not know how many of those things he encompasses. The Ministerial Forum on Education which just recently completed their report, Mr. Miltenberger has indicated that out of 44 recommendations, 31 are non- monetary. The main ones that I have heard communities and people focus on are things like lack of financial resources, the lack of special needs assistance and the student teacher ratio being too high. The Minister refers to communities, families, DECs communication. Sooner or later it has to fall to somebody. On whose shoulders is this work going to fall on? Who is going to do this? How can we honestly tell the people that 31 of these recommendations can be done at no cost. Someone is going to have to do it. To whom is this new responsibility going to fall? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Help us improve OpenNWT
Please only include contact information if you would like to hear back.