Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll just keep my comments brief. I think most of my colleagues here have gone over most of the things I would have mentioned. The question that I have is with regard to a new school in Yellowknife. I know the Minister is aware that there are definitely some problems in the schools in Yellowknife in terms of overcrowding and limited space. I know a school in my riding, Ecole St. Joseph School, has programs, Mr. Chairman, for special needs students that they're running out of broom closets at the school, and I've observed that myself on a visit to the school. I know the enrolment at Weledeh has grown by 17 percent. There's no space at St. Patrick High School, and even by the government's own standards the need for a new school in Yellowknife is clearly identified. I'm just wondering, Mr. Chairman, where on the radar screen is a new school for Yellowknife. The community is growing. By most accounts, the population in Yellowknife is just over the 20,000 mark, and it seems to be growing. The vacancy rate is remaining low: 1.7 percent, even though there have been at last 400 new rental units brought onto the market in the last 18 months. I think it's time that the government took the situation seriously here in Yellowknife, that we do need a new school and we're going to need it in the very near future. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Debates of March 24th, 2004
This is page numbers 237 - 292 of the Hansard for the 15th 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.
Topics
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
The Chair Calvin Pokiak
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Ramsay, I'm just wondering if we can place your question under the capital acquisition plans.
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Bill Braden Great Slave
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under the area here of culture, heritage and languages, the notes in the main estimates refer to the development of a northern arts strategy. This is something that is a carryover from the previous assembly, something that I've been looking forward to and so have dozens of organizations and hundreds of performers and volunteers in the arts area.
This is a joint approach, Mr. Chairman, between this department and the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. I wanted to ask the Minister when we might see the actual completion of this strategy and the start of its implementation. Thank you.
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe I indicated to standing committee that we expect to have it completed by May.
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Bill Braden Great Slave
Thank you. In the notes here in the main estimates, Mr. Chairman, there is no reference to any particular budget line that may be devoted to starting the implementation, and I'm wondering if the Minister might be able to speak at least on his department for what budgetary measures are anticipated to help get this strategy going. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There has been no funding identified for the strategy, per se. The strategy is more to cover how the government responds overall. The strategy itself doesn't need funding, but it would guide us in how we would handle contribution programs and so on.
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Bill Braden Great Slave
Okay. That opens up a number of areas, but they are probably more hypothetical and what I should do is wait until the strategy is brought forward, and then engage in that funding question. So that's all I have, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a short question under the culture, heritage and languages aspect of this page. Mr. Chairman, I believe Minister Dent is the only Member unique in this Assembly who has the functional ability to speak French. I think it's a very good thing and I would encourage him to exercise that capacity as often as possible. I think it is a good thing to have as many of the official languages being spoken in this Assembly as possible.
Mr. Chairman, having said that, I wanted to draw to the attention of the Minister that within the guidelines, six of the official languages guidelines manual under the act, I believe, there is a requirement to have government documents and government announcements translated and broadcast in official languages which include French. I'm not sure about the burden of that requirement. I don't believe it's mandatory, but it's certainly encouraged. I understand that there are some departments who do practice that guideline, but not all departments. So I would like to have a commitment from the Minister, perhaps a letter or guideline to all the departments reminding everyone of that requirement and to encourage them to follow that guideline. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I can certainly talk with my colleagues and make sure that they're reminded of this requirement.
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. After I have complimented on his ability to speak French, I was hoping for a firmer commitment on the part of the Minister. May I
ask for the Minister to write a letter to all of the Ministers or employees, or make some sort of a public statement reminding that department? Thank you.
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Mr. Chairman, I'll make sure that I remind all Ministers of the guidelines and remind them that they should be paying attention to those guidelines.
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Sandy Lee Range Lake
I would ask for a copy of whatever communication he puts out, please. Thank you.
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Committee Motion 7-15(3): To Undertake A Quantitative Evaluation On Grade Extensions To Gauge Student Success, Carried
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285