This is page numbers 157 - 202 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 5th 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.

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Supplementary To Question 73-14(5): Metis Health Benefits Program
Question 73-14(5): Metis Health Benefits Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 168

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, regarding the Minister's comments, getting a request from the South Slave Metis Council, what action have you taken to ensure that before anything happens with any Métis organization that the full consultation will be taken with all Metis councils up and down the Mackenzie Valley?

Supplementary To Question 73-14(5): Metis Health Benefits Program
Question 73-14(5): Metis Health Benefits Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 168

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 73-14(5): Metis Health Benefits Program
Question 73-14(5): Metis Health Benefits Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 168

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my discussions with the president of the South Slave Metis Tribal Council, I indicated that this issue could not be dealt with in isolation between the department and the South Slave Metis Tribal Council. I subsequently, coming to Yellowknife, have written to the three Metis organizations to invite them to the table in March to look at how this program is doing, given the fact that it was initially conceived under the Metis Nation and things have changed since then. I want and need the benefit of their input and advice in terms of any changes that may be contemplated which would have to be discussed and agreed to and taken to Cabinet. Very clearly, there is a need to have all the players at the table. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 73-14(5): Metis Health Benefits Program
Question 73-14(5): Metis Health Benefits Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 169

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment regarding day cares. Mr. Speaker, on February 22nd, Mr. Ootes released a press release, followed by a Member's statement in the House, about the additional $1 million to be invested in early childhood education and day care. Mr. Speaker, it is good to see government responding to some of the concerns you raise in the House. I raised this issue last year.

Two areas that need critical investments; they plan to increase the contribution for infant space by 60 percent, which is a great idea, and to assist low-income parents with their day care dollars.

Mr. Speaker, these investments and announcements by the Minister implies that we have day cares in all our 32 communities of the Northwest Territories. That is not the case, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Return To Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 169

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am glad the Member is referencing this particular funding proposal of $1 million. I do wish to point out that the funding for day cares is more than just infant space. It is for after hours, after school, as well as for preschool and for infant space. The funding is intended, Mr. Speaker, for start-ups as well as for operation and maintenance. That gives an opportunity for those communities who may not have a day care to apply for funding to start a day care, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Return To Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 169

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Supplementary To Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 169

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is good to know that there is money identified for start-up. In most of our communities there is no space available. There is no infrastructure in the communities. If there are no buildings to house a day care, you cannot have a day care. This $1 million, Mr. Speaker, is that geared towards the construction of the spaces that the Minister is referring to? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 169

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Further Return To Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 169

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, the $1 million is in addition to $800,000 that we provide for day cares, whereby we provide funding for start-up, as I mentioned. It does not include capital projects, Mr. Speaker. The money will assist in providing furniture, equipment, whatever may be required in order to start a day care, but it certainly does not include the capital costs of buildings and so forth. It does include money for rent and so forth.

Further Return To Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 169

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Supplementary To Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 169

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this sounds a little like a program for the have communities, for those communities that already have the day cares. What about the communities that do not? What kinds of programs are available for them to get a building? How can a community like Lutselk'e get a building to house a day care? They need day care there too, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 169

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Further Return To Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 169

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Space is always a problem whether it is a large or small community, Mr. Speaker. That is the reason why we speak of support in the terms that we do, because it provides an opportunity for communities to get start-up funding and to maintenance and operations, O and M money, in other words, for operating a day care, Mr. Speaker. It has increased the O and M substantially. That is the per day contribution for children. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 169

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Supplementary To Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 169

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, $1.8 million to cover the entire Northwest Territories does not seem like enough, especially if you consider the start-up costs of day cares. Construction costs in the Northwest Territories, as his honourable colleague, Mr. Allen, would probably tell the Minister that $1.8 million is not enough to build a building, have O and M on there, and still have money left over to provide O and M and start-up right across the Territories, let alone one community.

How can communities expect to have a start-up on $1.8 million? Is there another program the Minister might be aware of that I am not aware of? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 169

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

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

Further Return To Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 169

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the program is intended to provide support funding for, and I am getting repetitive here, start-up and O and M funding. Start-up being for equipment, furniture, carpeting and so forth. We have that policy across the Northwest Territories. We do not discriminate according to community. It is the same in large communities as it is in small communities. The opportunity is there for communities to start day cares. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Question 74-14(5): Early Childhood Program Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 170

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Question 75-14(5): Ministerial Procedures Manual Update
Item 6: Oral Questions

February 25th, 2002

Page 170

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the 22nd of March, 2000, the Premier tabled a document called the Ministerial Administrative Procedures Manual. I was wondering if I could ask the Premier if he would check to see if there have been any amendments or revisions to this document and if so, if he would table those revisions and make sure that revised copies of the administrative procedures manual are placed in the Legislative Library.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 75-14(5): Ministerial Procedures Manual Update
Question 75-14(5): Ministerial Procedures Manual Update
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 170

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I will. Thank you.

Return To Question 75-14(5): Ministerial Procedures Manual Update
Question 75-14(5): Ministerial Procedures Manual Update
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 170

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

No further supplementaries? Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Education and it relates to standardized testing. This year, a couple of Northwest Territories education boards have implemented standardized testing, I believe at grades 3, 6 and 9. It is testing that allows us to compare our results with Alberta's. I know the boards have taken this and gone and done it on their own initiative, but I am wondering if our Department of Education supports standardized testing. Thank you.