This is page numbers 471 - 489 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 education.

Topics

Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. On the forum that he announced earlier this week, could he indicate how long he expects this process to take? Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated in my Minister's statement on that subject, I hope to have the forum members appointed in three weeks' time. We hope to have them out doing community consultations the first two to three weeks in June so that we can catch residents while they are still in their communities before the school season is over and many people go out on the land or on holidays. There will be a wrap-up in the fall, in October. We would be hoping to present a report to Cabinet, and this government possibly in October, if not to this government, to the next government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am sure I saw a letter go across my desk the other day asking for names to be appointed to the forum. Could the Minister indicate how long we have to submit names?

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Mr. Minister.

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The timeline we have given for submissions has been reduced so that we can have this forum prepared to go out into the communities, as I said earlier before the school season is over. We know it is difficult to try to do community consultations during the summer months so we have shortened the time frame. I believe it is May 7, 1999. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to indicate I believe this is very valuable work that the Minister is undertaking. I would like to thank him for allowing us to submit names for the forum. Thank you.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

That is a comment. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.

Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier, Mr. Antoine. It is in regard to my Member's statement earlier today when I talked about the BC Supreme Court and the whole pornography issue and the important rights children should have for their protection. My question, to the Premier is, has his government taken any action in the form of writing to the federal government encouraging them to appeal this ruling? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

The Premier, Mr. Antoine.

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have to take this question as notice. I do not know the details, but the Department of Justice would be responsible for it. I will get the information and get back to the Member. Thank you.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

The question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. My question is, from the information that the Minister has observed and from the departmental briefings that he has received to date, does the Minister concur that there is a crisis in our education system? Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

The Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Miltenberger.

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have been briefed. I have heard the concerns raised by the people in the communities, my own included. Do I agree that the educational system is in crisis? No, I do not. Do I agree that there are issues to be dealt with and there would be a benefit from more revenue? Yes, I do. Are there many good and positive things about our educational system and is it still continuing to function? Yes, it is. Thank you.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker the Minister has used up all of my supplementary questions. Mr. Speaker, I want to be assured that the Minister is personally aware of how widespread the concern with regard to education are. Has he heard from the people, has he received the message? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Mr. Minister.

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A person would have to be blind, deaf, and dumb not to have heard the concerns raised across the Northwest Territories. I would like to think I have none of those disabilities, and that I am very well aware of the issues. I have the letter here that my colleague referred to in her Member's statement. I know it is an issue of great significant to a lot of people. It is an issue of high emotion, to the extent they make what I consider some very personal comments in this letter addressed to me, they say in big bold letters, our children are worth it, are yours? Implying to me, that somehow, I have less of a concern as a parent or grandparent than another person in the Northwest Territories about the issue of education, or any less concern than any other Member in this House about the issues of education and how it will affect my family. Very clearly, I would say unequivocally that my concern for my family is probably not one iota less than Mrs. King. Like most parents, I value my children more than life itself. Thank you.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is good to hear that we have such an able-bodied Minister in charge of this very important portfolio. Mr. Speaker, what potential impact can the Minister realistically bring to bear on this Cabinet and this process of a government that could result in more funding for education? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Mr. Miltenberger.

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the last number of days we have raised the issue of the need for greater revenues in the longer term. In the shorter term, we have been taking the steps that I have indicated we are going to, they are all underway. I would also like to point out that this budget process has been going on for eight months. The committees have tabled for the first time publicly, their report, which I have read cover to cover and all the yellow stickies indicate the commitments that we have made to the committee. Well, we all agree education is a priority, as a Legislative Assembly we have talked for eight months about education. Nowhere in here do I see one recommendation about taking 10 percent of this budget and moving it to education, or let us cut this and move it to education. This process that we are now in is the final end result of the budgeting process. All of the work that we do has been done for the most part in camera behind closed doors. We now have the public process where we stand up, the committee says this, the Main Estimates say how much money is there, this is the end product. We have two choices; we approve the budget or we remove money.

We have to plan for the future very clearly. If we are really serious about this, I know we have to let our constituents know that education is a big issue, and it is. How do we productively and proactively move ahead on that? That is the question. We have been involved with this for eight months. There are lots of recommendations in here in terms of process, how to make the existing system better, because I sat on that side until recently and I know the recommendations that we made. In the longer term we are looking for revenues. There are adjustments we can make within our system for improvements and we are working with the people on that. Very clearly, we have an obligation as an Assembly as well to, when we speak, let us be clear about where we stand in this process and what input has been involved so far. Thank you.