This is page numbers 551 - 577 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.

Topics

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Motion has been carried. Five in favour, none against, six abstentions. Motion is carried.

--Applause

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Mr. Kakfwi.

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to go back to item number item 4, returns to oral questions.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to go back to item 4, returns to oral questions. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You have unanimous consent, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Oral Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Revert To Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

May 11th, 1999

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is in response to a question asked by Mr. Jake Ootes on April 30th in regard to Small Claims Court Procedures. The small claims jurisdiction of the Territorial Court was reviewed several years ago following the release of the Canadian Bar Association's report on the civil justice system.

At the present time, the jurisdiction of the Territorial Court to hear civil claims for debt or damages is limited to those matters under $5,000. Statistics for the past five years show no increase in small claims cases commenced. More importantly however, the statistics show that a majority of civil cases filed in the Territorial Court are for recovery of damages in the $500 to $3,000 range. Less than 18 percent of the actions commenced in the last five years have been for amounts in excess of $3,000.

Based on the above information, as well as the unknown effect that the creation of two territories would have on the workload of the NWT Courts, a decision was made to retain this status quo. My officials will be contacting other jurisdictions regarding their small claims fees, procedures and the impact that changes have had on the workload of the courts. Thank you.

Return To Oral Question 167-13(7): Small Claims Court Procedures
Revert To Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters. We are dealing with Bill 17, Appropriation Act 1999-2000; Committee Report 1-13(7), Report of 1999-2002 Business Plans and 1999-2000 Main Estimates. Tabled Document 31-13(7), Report to the Minister, Public Works and Services, April 15, 1999, regarding issues raised in the report of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

I am going to call the committee of the whole to order. We have a number of items today. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I recommend that we continue dealing with Bill 17 and Committee Report 1-13(7) to try and conclude the Department of Education, Culture and Employment today.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Is the committee agreed?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

We will continue with general comments under the Department of Education, Culture and Employment after a brief break. Thank you.

--Break

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

We will come back to order. I would like to determine if the Minister would like to bring in his witnesses. Is it agreed that the Minister bring in his witnesses?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you. Mr. Minister, would you please bring in your witnesses?

Mr. Minister, would you introduce your witnesses, please?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is our pleasure to be here for the third day to discuss the education budget. On my left, I have Mr. Mark Cleveland, the deputy minister, and on my right, Mr. Paul Devitt, the director of finance and management services.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you. Are there any further opening remarks? Detail has been asked for so we will start on

page 9-9, directorate and administration, operations and maintenance $5.433 million. Mr. Henry

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I just have one question of the Minister, and I anticipate he probably does not have the information, but I would appreciate it if he could get it. What we have heard over the last few days, numerous points brought up around the pupil/teacher ratio in our classrooms in the Northwest Territories. I am wondering if the Minister could provide, if you will, a pupil/teacher ratio to the number of the bureaucracy including boards across the territories, the pupil/teacher ratio to the bureaucracy ratio, and if there is any research done to how that compares to other jurisdictions just to ensure we have a good functioning bureaucracy managing our education system. If the Minister could provide that at some time, I would appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you, Mr. Henry. Mr. Minister.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just like some clarification. Is the Member asking that we take all the money we currently spend on employees and compare it to the number of pupils we have?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Henry, would you like to clarify this for the Minister please?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Seamus Henry Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I will certainly try and clarify. What I am asking for is take the number of people involved in the administration of education, the department and boards and agencies that administer education and compare that to the number of students we have in the territories, then using the same comparison in other regions of Canada. I see a couple of people nodding, Mr. Chairman, so I anticipate that was clear enough.

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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you, Mr. Henry. Mr. Minister.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We will commit to attempting to pull that information together of the students compared to the administration. Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jake Ootes

Thank you. Further questions. Operations and maintenance for directorate and administration, $5.433 million. Agreed?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.