Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wonder if the Member would clarify the question. I did not catch a word in there. Did he say how many are in the apprenticeship program? I did not catch the complete question. Thank you.
Debates of June 29th, 2000
This is page numbers 295 - 364 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 communities.
Topics
Supplementary To Question 98-14(3): Linking Apprenticeship Training And Literacy
Question 98-14(3): Linking Apprenticeship Training And Literacy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 309
Supplementary To Question 98-14(3): Linking Apprenticeship Training And Literacy
Question 98-14(3): Linking Apprenticeship Training And Literacy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 309
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you. I will allow Mr. Roland to restate the question, but be very succinct, Mr. Roland.
Supplementary To Question 98-14(3): Linking Apprenticeship Training And Literacy
Question 98-14(3): Linking Apprenticeship Training And Literacy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 309
Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister inform me, since the government has got out of apprenticeships, as I said they used to be the leader, but since the government has got out of apprenticeships in the Northwest Territories, how many apprenticeships have been created? That is by the private sector. Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 98-14(3): Linking Apprenticeship Training And Literacy
Question 98-14(3): Linking Apprenticeship Training And Literacy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture, and Employment, Mr. Ootes.
Further Return To Question 98-14(3): Linking Apprenticeship Training And Literacy
Question 98-14(3): Linking Apprenticeship Training And Literacy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have some data on the number of apprentices in the Northwest Territories, but I do not have the answer to the specific question the Member has asked, and will get him the information on that if that is available, and readily available. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 98-14(3): Linking Apprenticeship Training And Literacy
Question 98-14(3): Linking Apprenticeship Training And Literacy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.
Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Paul Delorey Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is probably more for the Minister of Justice. As I stated in my Member's statement I was quite shocked to read that the average education level of our inmates in our correctional centres is grade 6. We all know that alcohol is involved in the commitment of the majority of offences in the Northwest Territories. I might suggest that the lack of education that many inmates have contributes to their frustration level, which may drive their need to drink, which in turn results in the commission of an offence. I also suggest that if that person only has a grade 6 education, they may have already been sentenced to a hard life regardless of any sentence imposed by the court.
Can the Minister of Justice tell me what literacy program options are available in the correction centres? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Antoine.
Return To Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the correctional facilities that exist in the Northwest Territories, there are literacy programs, along with other programs, offered at these facilities. Thank you.
Return To Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Supplementary To Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Paul Delorey Hay River North
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister tell the Assembly how many hours a day an inmate who is in a literacy program in the correction centre would spend in a classroom? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker I do not have the details. That is kind of a detailed question for me to reply to at this point, so I will find that information and provide the honourable Member with the specific amount of hours per inmate at these facilities. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Supplementary To Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Paul Delorey Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for that. I would also like to know, Mr. Speaker, if we could have some figures, or if the Minister has any figures on what percentage of our inmates have a grade 12 education or better? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not know at this point what the statistics are. I will find that information and share it with the honourable Member. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Supplementary To Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Paul Delorey Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe the Minister could also add in his information that he will gather for me, what programming is available, specifically for the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre in Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand there are literacy programs provided at the South Mackenzie Correctional Facility, as well as numerous other programs and there are other programs that are provided for the inmates there. You have to realize that at our facilities, we do not have adequate spaces to provide extensive programming, including literacy. We understand there is timing as well. There are different inmates coming in at different times for different lengths of stay, so I will take the questions from the honourable Member and provide as much detail as we can. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Question 99-14(3): Literacy Programs In Correctional Facilities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Question 100-14(3): Linking Health And Literacy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 310
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. In light of our acknowledgement of the illiteracy rate of the Northwest Territories, the average of which is 15 percent, and some of our communities are as high as 61 percent, I was somewhat disillusioned during the review of the business plan for the department of Health and Social Services with their Health Promotion Strategy.
In their Health Promotion Strategy, they failed to recognize the negative effect that illiteracy has on the health and well being of members of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, they also did not recognize illiteracy as a critical issue affecting their department. I would argue, Mr. Speaker, that illiteracy contributes to the social and health problems that the department faces. If you cannot read all the shiny pamphlets in the world on the dangers of AIDS or sharing needles, they are not going to help you.
Can the Minister inform the House whether her department acknowledges the effects that literacy has on the health and well being of Northerners? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Question 100-14(3): Linking Health And Literacy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 311
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Return To Question 100-14(3): Linking Health And Literacy
Question 100-14(3): Linking Health And Literacy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 311
The Speaker Tony Whitford
HON. JANE GROENEWEGEN Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my department and I recognize that literacy comes to bear on every aspect of a person's life. Illiteracy has a negative impact in accessing every opportunity and pursuing every goal in a person's life. Thank you.