This is page numbers 1355 - 1396 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 6th 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 tlicho.

Topics

Supplementary To Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1369

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1369

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there have been many programs initiated by this government. We have the literacy strategy to help people who are caught behind in their capabilities, to make them more literate. So that's been a very effective strategy that we've introduced. Additionally we have been working in the apprenticeship area to look at the possibility of providing individuals with more training to write the pre-apprenticeship exams, and that has been developed, Mr. Speaker, so there are a multitude of areas. Additionally we have made application previously to the federal government, Mr. Speaker, for funding support. That was done through the Northwest Territories industrial mining skills strategy and the oil and gas industrial skills strategy. Both programs will probably total approximately...It's $20 million in support we're seeking from the federal government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1369

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1369

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I made reference to a petition that I tabled in this House last week from the students of Aklavik regarding the Hope and Alex Gordon Learning Centre, in which they're asking for financial assistance from this government just to get into the learning centre so they can take programs such as upgrading and meet their achievements so that they can get into the different trades areas. I would like to ask the Minister, have you had an opportunity to look at that request and what are you going to do to assist with learning centres in our communities so people can realistically take some courses so that they can take advantage of these programs?

Supplementary To Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1370

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Two questions there. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1370

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Any support beyond the programs that we have available, Mr. Speaker, would require additional resources, additional funding. Of course, that's where we're very pleased to hear the announcement last week by the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew in Inuvik on the aboriginal skill development training program. That offers an opportunity for us to access that particular funding, Mr. Speaker. Also for students who are in adult education type programs, we are looking at the possibility of them accessing the university/college entrance preparation program. That would provide them with some funding for two semesters to be able to upgrade themselves to enter higher education programs, Mr. Speaker. Then, of course, for those who are on income support, they can access that program along with their educational levels. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1370

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Your final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1370

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'll try this again. Could the Minister tell me in plain English how much money is going to go to the Aklavik Learning Centre so these students can take advantage of their education requirements by way of having a curriculum program delivered in Aklavik?

Supplementary To Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1370

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Item 7: Oral Questions

October 8th, 2003

Page 1370

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, I don't know what kind of funding is presently allocated to operate the Aklavik Adult Education Centre. I could find out for the Member, if that's the question as to how it is being allocated at the present time. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Question 413-14(6): Education And Training For Resource Development Employment
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1370

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Question 414-14(6): Community Health Centre
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1370

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I hope he can respond. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I made a statement that we had been expecting a health centre for the Hay River Reserve for a number of years now. It was in the 20-year needs assessment. Since my election, we have watched every year as it moved up, and this year we were expecting to have the project in place. However, when it went to the powers that be who decide whether this project would move forward, the health centre disappeared off the radar screen. We had already made a commitment, I believe, with the community and we had met with the community and indicated to them that there were dollars available for a health centre for this coming year, but now that's not the case. I would like to ask the Minister if he could tell me why the project was eliminated from the capital program. Thank you.

Question 414-14(6): Community Health Centre
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1370

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 414-14(6): Community Health Centre
Question 414-14(6): Community Health Centre
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1370

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will take the question as notice so I don't put people through this needlessly. Thank you.

Return To Question 414-14(6): Community Health Centre
Question 414-14(6): Community Health Centre
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1370

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. The honourable Minister has said that he will take the question as notice. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question will be directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment in line with my Member's statement yesterday and today on the area of schooling and special needs for students. In light of the Minister's statement on effective behaviour support, it talks about going ahead, about 90 percent of students respond well to this program, others need additional help and support. They've done some of this work in a number of places, as well as some training. I would like to know if this is an area that would help parents, like the one I mentioned in my Member's statement where their child is in need of support but can't get it in the communities and, unfortunately, the response they get is to send the child out of the community. So would something like his Minister's statement be used in that area? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Return To Question 415-14(6): Support For Special Needs In Nwt Classrooms
Question 415-14(6): Support For Special Needs In NWT Classrooms
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1370

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The effective behaviour support program is dedicated to assisting teachers to develop methodologies by which they can assist students with behavioural problems and to address those in the classrooms as well as in the hallways and the yard. So it's not the type of program whereby the support could be provided for the specific case I believe that the Member is referring to. That is done through the student support initiative we have, Mr. Speaker, whereby we fund it. We used to fund approximately eight percent to schools, and since the year 2000 we've increased that every year to 15 percent of school funding. So there has been an increase to address issues such as Mr. Roland has mentioned. Thank you.

Return To Question 415-14(6): Support For Special Needs In Nwt Classrooms
Question 415-14(6): Support For Special Needs In NWT Classrooms
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1370

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Supplementary To Question 415-14(6): Support For Special Needs In Nwt Classrooms
Question 415-14(6): Support For Special Needs In NWT Classrooms
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1370

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the Education Act it states that the education body will provide students with the support services necessary to give effect to subsection (1) in accordance with the direction of the Minister. Can the Minister tell us has he worked with the Department of Health and Social Services to try to address the situation we have in schools where special needs are a growing concern? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 415-14(6): Support For Special Needs In Nwt Classrooms
Question 415-14(6): Support For Special Needs In NWT Classrooms
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1370

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 415-14(6): Support For Special Needs In Nwt Classrooms
Question 415-14(6): Support For Special Needs In NWT Classrooms
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1371

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This may have taken place, Mr. Speaker, at the officials level where there is a working relationship. Mr. Speaker, as I say, the process that we followed here on a policy base has been to increase the funding available for schools, and we do that, of course, through a formula to all jurisdictions. In the case of Inuvik, it would be to the Beaufort-Delta District Education Authority. They, in turn, would allocate funding for this money into the specific areas of need. The specific requirement of this student may have to be addressed by me with a question to the board itself to see whether they have addressed the need of this particular student and how we can address it, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 415-14(6): Support For Special Needs In Nwt Classrooms
Question 415-14(6): Support For Special Needs In NWT Classrooms
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1371

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Supplementary To Question 415-14(6): Support For Special Needs In Nwt Classrooms
Question 415-14(6): Support For Special Needs In NWT Classrooms
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1371

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister say that he's meeting the intent of the act when a parent has to send their children out of our jurisdiction to get support, then have to return? Does he feel he's meeting the intent of the act? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 415-14(6): Support For Special Needs In Nwt Classrooms
Question 415-14(6): Support For Special Needs In NWT Classrooms
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 1371

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.