This is page numbers 101 - 132 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 3rd 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.

Further Return To Question 40-14(3): Deh Cho Property Assessments
Question 40-14(3): Deh Cho Property Assessments
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 106

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 40-14(3): Deh Cho Property Assessments
Question 40-14(3): Deh Cho Property Assessments
Item 6: Oral Questions

June 22nd, 2000

Page 106

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister undertake to provide me with the information that would indicate how many of those appeals that were reviewed by the independent board of revision have resulted in either an increase or decrease to the property assessment values?

Supplementary To Question 40-14(3): Deh Cho Property Assessments
Question 40-14(3): Deh Cho Property Assessments
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 106

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 40-14(3): Deh Cho Property Assessments
Question 40-14(3): Deh Cho Property Assessments
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I will do what the honourable Member is requesting and find out how many of these appeals were heard and the feedback the department received from the board of revision and provide that information. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 40-14(3): Deh Cho Property Assessments
Question 40-14(3): Deh Cho Property Assessments
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 107

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are addressed to the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation and follow up on my Member's statement this morning. I was wondering if the Minister would commit to taking a serious look at how the Power Corporation can formally develop an apprenticeship program that would look at the very many skill sets within the Power Corporation and come forward with a plan, unless it already exists and I am unaware of it, as to how we can train Northerners to become mechanics, linesmen, as I indicated in my Member's statement. This would also have the added benefit of making sure we do not lapse apprenticeship dollars when there is still a critical need for trained Northerners in these critical areas. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, the Honourable Jake Ootes.

Return To Question 41-14(3): Need For Ntpc Apprenticeship Program
Question 41-14(3): Need For NTPC Apprenticeship Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That it is a very good suggestion. We will look at it and I certainly agree with the Member that we should look within our organizations in government wherever we can for apprenticeships, certainly with an organization like the Power Corporation.

At the moment, the Power Corporation does have an apprenticeship program which was started four years ago and a total of seven apprentices are in the Power Corporation, four of whom are in the west and three in Nunavut. All are priority one candidates under the affirmative action program.

For the Member's information, the Power Corporation is conducting an organizational review as a result of the division process. Several steps have been taken on that. One was to set up a steering committee, which has decided to do some consultation and to check with a cross-section of employees, as well as representatives from the Union of Northern Workers, to provide input into the organizational review process. Following that meeting, a design committee was set up of approximately 15 individuals from across the Territories. It includes representation from employees, including the bargaining unit, head office and excluded employees.

The design committee meets on an ongoing basis and is looking at various areas. I think this is one area this fits into, if it has not already fit into. I appreciate the Member's comment, and that is an area I will follow up with. Thank you.

Return To Question 41-14(3): Need For Ntpc Apprenticeship Program
Question 41-14(3): Need For NTPC Apprenticeship Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 107

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 41-14(3): Need For Ntpc Apprenticeship Program
Question 41-14(3): Need For NTPC Apprenticeship Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 107

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the days of old, the territorial government was one of the main employers of apprentices. They have since gone out of that for the most part and have moved to contract arrangements with local tradesmen.

The Power Corporation, since we own it, is a key area with tremendous potential. My question to the Minister is will he be prepared to report back with a clear plan and some targets? We asked BHP to try to hire 13 apprentices and rotate them into the workforce. We asked Diavik for 18 apprentices. Would he commit to coming back to the House to report back, and could he tell us when? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 41-14(3): Need For Ntpc Apprenticeship Program
Question 41-14(3): Need For NTPC Apprenticeship Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 107

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, the Honourable Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 41-14(3): Need For Ntpc Apprenticeship Program
Question 41-14(3): Need For NTPC Apprenticeship Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The subject of apprenticeships popped up during my election campaign as I was going door-to-door. I did speak to several individuals who worked for the Power Corporation who spoke about this area as well.

Due to the many issues that have been there with the Power Corporation, it is a subject that I feel needs to be addressed quickly. There were previously other priorities. I will discuss with the board of directors, with whom I am meeting on Monday, the possibility of designing a program and will report back to the Member as to the timing this can be looked at and discussed. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 41-14(3): Need For Ntpc Apprenticeship Program
Question 41-14(3): Need For NTPC Apprenticeship Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 107

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 41-14(3): Need For Ntpc Apprenticeship Program
Question 41-14(3): Need For NTPC Apprenticeship Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 107

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when the Minister reports back, could he also indicate how NTPC could work with Education, Culture and Employment in terms of marketing and promoting the apprenticeship opportunities with the Power Corporation to the students in the schools and through the career development component of the Department of Education. Because it is well and good to have apprenticeships, but you have to be able to make sure that we spend the same kind of effort and time that we have trying to get apprentices into the mines.

We have to give the same kind of attention and effort with this particular initiative if it is going to succeed. So could the Minister indicate that and could he also just indicate when he thinks he will be able to report back. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 41-14(3): Need For Ntpc Apprenticeship Program
Question 41-14(3): Need For NTPC Apprenticeship Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 107

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, the Honourable Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 41-14(3): Need For Ntpc Apprenticeship Program
Question 41-14(3): Need For NTPC Apprenticeship Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I believe what the Member was saying, the long and the short of what he was saying, was that we need a promotional program on the part of the Power Corporation to work hand in hand with the Department of Education to ensure that the focus and the profile of apprenticeships is raised.

I am meeting with, as I mentioned, the Power Corporation on Tuesday evening in Hay River and I expect that I can discuss both of these matters. I will report back as quickly as I can after that. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 41-14(3): Need For Ntpc Apprenticeship Program
Question 41-14(3): Need For NTPC Apprenticeship Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 108

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for Education. I am alarmed with statistics that I have come across, the percentages of illiterate people in the different constituencies versus the percentage of the population who are illiterate in the Mackenzie Delta, 36 percent. In the community of Tsiigehtchic, it is almost 39 percent; Fort McPherson, 3five percent; and in Aklavik, it is 38 percent.

There are other constituencies with even higher percentages, in some cases up to 40 percent. So I find it awfully alarming, Mr. Speaker, that we have these high percentages of illiterate people in our ridings, yet we are trying to talk about economics and making sure that we do the best for the people, because one of the statistics states that the higher the literacy level is, the greater the success rate they have in the labour market.

Yet, Mr. Speaker, many of the people that we find who are in trouble with the law have low literacy skills and that leads to crime. There are also other statistics in relation, a person with low literacy is usually on unemployment or is usually receiving social assistance.

So I find it alarming, Mr. Speaker, that we as a government have not done more to try to attract those skills. So I think that realizing there is a connection between these percentages and aboriginal communities that illiteracy has a direct relationship between crime, poverty, unemployment, poor health and low income limits success for the people in those communities.

So I would like to ask the Minister of Education exactly what is his department doing to improve on these statistics and bring down the percentages of illiteracy in the aboriginal communities?

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Return To Question 42-14(3): Addressing Literacy In Nwt Communities
Question 42-14(3): Addressing Literacy In NWT Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 108

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is no doubt that illiteracy is an extreme problem in this Territory and that we need to address that on an ongoing basis. At the moment, to my understanding, the Northwest Territories Literacy Council is conducting a research project. I expect that they will be bringing that forward within a short period of time and that there will be recommendations in there that possibly we can, and look at and see what can be done.

Funding is done through Aurora College to provide literacy funding to community groups at the moment. Literacy is a problem throughout our system. It is there at the early childhood level and our programs, that we do have, are trying to address that area through the early childhood programs, through Aboriginal Head Start programs. And then in school systems, we are noting that literacy levels are low and it is of concern to us and I believe that this whole area needs addressing.

We are just developing and, hopefully we will get it through soon, a directive which has been worked on for some time, the directive on adult basic education and literacy. Following the directive, we hope to develop a strategic plan, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 42-14(3): Addressing Literacy In Nwt Communities
Question 42-14(3): Addressing Literacy In NWT Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 108

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 42-14(3): Addressing Literacy In Nwt Communities
Question 42-14(3): Addressing Literacy In NWT Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 108

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the areas in our communities that we see a lot of is our people who are on income support trying to better themselves through the adult education program. Yet, Mr. Speaker, I find it appalling that in the budget review that is one area that has taken some major cuts, especially in the delivery of that program in our communities.

So how can the Minister stand here and say that there are avenues that they are taking to accomplish this, but yet, on the other hand, they are cutting the program that is in place to deliver this in the small communities?

Supplementary To Question 42-14(3): Addressing Literacy In Nwt Communities
Question 42-14(3): Addressing Literacy In NWT Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 108

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 42-14(3): Addressing Literacy In Nwt Communities
Question 42-14(3): Addressing Literacy In NWT Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The program that was in existence, Community Skills for Work, sunsetted. It was not put into base funding and that is the program that I believe that the Member is referring to.

I have been working to develop, refine and enhance that particular program. I presented a paper to the Standing Committee on Social Programs yesterday, and hopefully we can discuss that as a possibility. The area that we are looking at is a target at employment and literacy, family and workplace program, so hopefully, Mr. Speaker, that can be addressed. I believe that is what the Member is asking for.

Further Return To Question 42-14(3): Addressing Literacy In Nwt Communities
Question 42-14(3): Addressing Literacy In NWT Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 108

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.