This is page numbers 241 - 272 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 chairman.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 244

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Ms. Pat Thomas, who has been here many days trying to slug through the same stuff that we have. Thank you.

--Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 245

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Recognitions of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. It is partially in relation to the Minister's Forum on Education. Mr. Speaker, recently we have been hearing that people from Deline had wanted to be able to send their children to a school in Yellowknife, presumably because they felt that they could get a better education here. I have not really gotten any more information on that item, but did hear a news broadcast on that.

In the Minister's Forum on Education, there are several comments here that the grade extensions have come up with a modest increase in the graduation rate, but it certainly has not increased at the same rate as the participation rate. It goes on to say that high schools in many communities are only able to offer a narrow range of courses because they have fewer teachers and more limited range of subject expertise, and specialized resources for math and sciences are highlighted as inadequate. Also, opportunities are more limited in small schools for extracurricular activities such as competitive sports, and interesting learning opportunities outside the classroom, and other points are made. Mr. Speaker, what I would like to know is has the Minister had any time to consider this particular area of the Minister's Forum report and also, stemming from the Deline request?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Miltenberger. Two questions.

Return To Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 245

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated in the House previously, we are working on the recommendations, we recognise that there are some big ones that are very expensive but there are others that we think we can come forward with a realistic plan for implementation. I have indicated that we intend to do that. I intend to be able to bring something forward when we gather in June that will show the result of that work with the department with the ministerial forum members and with the DEAs and DECs providing feedback. At this point I cannot respond specifically to that other than to say, all of these recommendations are being looked at and we are going to bring forward something for this House to look at. Thank you.

Return To Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 245

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Supplementary To Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 245

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister know if his staff have been able to verify whether the problems that have been identified by the parents and the teachers in the smaller communities, whether there is some truth to their claims? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 245

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 245

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not think that there is any question of anybody doubting what has been brought forward in terms of recommendations or feedback. The issue of adequate resources has been discussed quite thoroughly and will continue to be discussed quite thoroughly. The department is aware, as we all are, that there is a need for additional resources in a lot of the areas that have been highlighted in this report. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 245

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Supplementary To Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 245

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister contemplate reopening such places as Akaitcho Hall for students to come to the larger centres, as it seems that even the community people themselves are asking for such a thing.? If things are born out the way they are told, would he consider such a move?

Supplementary To Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 245

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 245

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The issue of re-opening of residential schools is a very complex one given the history. I think the Western Arctic Leadership Program, for instance, plays a valuable role, but at this point I am not contemplating at all the re-opening of Akaitcho Hall under any kind of condition. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Question 88-13(7): Grade Extensions In Small Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 245

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will direct my question to the Premier. It is regarding my Member's statement and the whole idea that we do have certain policies in place to assist businesses especially in the smaller communities. I mentioned a few examples, Storr & Sons in Aklavik, and I made reference to Ursus Aviation and also there are a few other companies that I would like to mention such as Tetlit'zheh Construction Ltd. and Ferguson Simek Clark. These are companies that have made an attempt to establish their businesses in the remote communities and in the regions. Mr. Speaker, some of these companies are finding themselves in a position of either having to move their business out of the Inuvik region or else consider closing down their business altogether. I think that for us to support our communities in the community business sector we have to ensure that these policies are there to assist them not to put a burden on them with regard to opening up the floodgates to allow companies to move in such as in the case of Ferguson Simek Clark, where they have had

to shut their doors and move back to Yellowknife.

I would like to ask the Premier exactly, the Business Incentive Policies, we have sole source negotiated contracts and site-specific contracts. Can the Premier tell me what is this government doing to ensure that there is some protection or mechanisms in place to ensure the business community in our small communities will be able to continue to operate in the future?

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Premier.

Return To Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 246

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the honourable Member is asking what this government is doing in regard to taking care of the business sector in the small communities. We have been separated from Nunavut for just 21 days. One of the elements of the Agenda for the New North is to focus and put our energies towards what we have here in the new Northwest Territories. In that line the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is taking the lead role in the economic strategy that we are proposing here. We have already initiated that last year, in the fall, and he has the lead role in this case to pursue. It is a general bigger picture.

Before, when we were all together we still had the same policies, but now that we have our own jurisdiction to take care of we should turn our attention and focus on to what we have. We should have an assessment of what we have. We should look at what we have in all sectors, not only in the businesses that are in the smaller communities, but look at what we have in terms of resources like oil and gas, forestry, tourism, mining, diamond mines. We should look at the infrastructure we have in the communities and we should look at the people that we have, the human resources that we currently have in the Northwest Territories and have a good assessment of what is there now.

I think that the economic strategy will attempt to do this, to look at all the different issues. I think it will be a good forum to discuss all issues including the concern of the honourable Member who is asking what is this government doing to protect these businesses in the small communities and, now that we have our own territory, why do we not turn our attention and focus to look at and assess the total Northwest Territories, including what the honourable Member is requesting of this government. Thank you.

Return To Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 246

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 246

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the concern that I raise comes from the riding that I represent where I do have a lot of small communities and in some cases they depend on the contracts that do come out. Especially in the case of Aklavik where Storr & Sons are the only local contractor, yet they find it hard to compete with a lot of the bigger companies within the region. I feel that we have to somehow find a mechanism that we do recognize that there is a difference of maintaining and operating equipment in an isolated community such as Aklavik where you have limited opportunities. I would like to ask the Premier exactly how does he see the smaller communities being involved in this economic strategy to ensure that these type of contractors will have some protection in the future?

Supplementary To Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Item 6: Oral Questions

April 20th, 1999

Page 246

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 246

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, from my understanding of the economic strategy, the Minister will attempt to develop the strategy through the community level on up through the system. We would like to take that strategy and get the input from both the people and businesses at the community level and develop it from the ground up. That is the direction that this strategy will be attempting to pursue. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 246

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 246

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe we just spent around $750,000 on this economic strategy with a consultant that basically pulled it together for us. I hope we are not going to be spending more money to go out to try to fix something that we already know needs fixing. I would like to ask exactly, is there a way that there can be an internal review on the problems that I have encountered in the last number of months in my riding, especially from companies such as Storr & Sons, Tetlit'zheh Construction out of Fort McPherson, the band corporation in Fort McPherson? It seems like it is an internal problem with the department that manages or monitors these contracts. Is there a possibility of having this problem dealt with sooner rather than later, instead of having to wait for another review?

Supplementary To Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 246

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Question 89-13(7): Policies To Assist Small Business
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 246

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the different examples the honourable Member is using in the request here are different instances that have happened over a number of months. I am sure that, knowing the departments that are handling this, there is probably a very good reason for why contracts were done the way they were done. Certainly we will look at it, get a briefing on each particular situation that the honourable Member is concerned about and, I am sure there is an explanation for the way each department has handled the particular issues that the honourable Member is raising at this time. Thank you.