This is page numbers 3585 – 3618 of the Hansard for the 17th 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 going.

Topics

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have the specific detail of date that we met with the board chairs. I met with the board chairs to introduce the Early Childhood Development Framework and along with that was introducing junior kindergarten, but I can provide the Member with the exact dates of when that occurred, along with other engagements that we have initiated with the board chairs, the superintendents. Later on today I will be tabling the document of engagement. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister. I’m not so worried about the engagement. I know that the superintendents and the board chairs and the boards have been involved all along and that they have known about this initiative. My question is: When were they advised that their funding was going to be reduced for the ‘14-15 budget year? If the Minister doesn’t have that information, that’s fine, I can appreciate that, but it’s my understanding that it wasn’t very long ago; that they were not advised of the funding at the time the project was put forward.

The Minister mentioned that the superintendents had suggested that the pupil-teacher ratio be reduced and implemented through kindergarten to Grade 12. I wonder if he could explain to me what that means; I don’t quite understand. I had understood that it was the high school PTR that was being changed. Are we changing the PTR for all grades? Thank you.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, when we first introduced that the PTR be adjusted, the formula, to the superintendents, it came out with various numbers for the school boards during the three-year phases. The school boards, the superintendents did come back and recommended that we seriously consider having a PTR discussion pertaining to kindergarten through Grade 12, so

those are the discussions that we’ve had with them, taking those into consideration, to make some make some modifications to the actual numbers from the original intent to what we have with the numbers now. So I made some changes over time. So, based on their recommendations, we went forward. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister. So I need to ask the Minister now then, what will be the pupil-teacher ratio for grades 10 to 12, what will be the PTR for elementary, what will be the PTR for primary in the budget year ‘14-15 coming up? Thank you.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

I did highlight the actual numbers of the pupil-teacher ratio for year one, year two and year three. The PTR is still above the legislated mandate, so we are working towards that. We just have to be mindful that we are beyond the legislated mandate. I can also provide to the Members the breakdown with the actual numbers of the phase-in approach for year one, year two, year three, starting this fall. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. I think I heard the Minister say we have those numbers. All I have in the written response is the current ratio is 13 to 1 and the legislated ratio is 16 to 1. I would like to know what we are moving to, and if that’s what the Minister said that he will get for us, then I very much look forward to that information, if he could confirm, please. Thank you.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Those are the discussions we’ve had with the superintendents. They were very mindful of our legislative mandate, the 13 versus the 16. So, I can provide Members with actual numbers that we have currently. Dealing with this $7 million over a three-year period, working with the school boards, how is that going to reflect on PTR, I can provide those actual numbers to the Members. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The time for question period has expired.

Before we go on, colleagues, I would like to welcome back into the House today Mr. Ernie Bernhardt; his wife, Beatrice; his daughter Donna Bernhardt, my executive assistant; and his son O.J. Welcome back to the House.

---Applause

Item 8, written questions. Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Finance.

1. Please list all examples for the last 10 years in

the departments of Municipal and Community Affairs, Public Works and Services, and Transportation where approved human resources dollars, typically listed under the main estimates category “Compensation and Benefits,” appropriated by the Legislature of the day, where money or monies have been transferred from the intended human resources activity to an operations project, program, service or any other activity for which these funds were not originally approved nor intended.

2. Further, please list all detailed information by:

• original job activity (by department);

• original approved human resources financial

allocation;

• amount of dollars moved, transferred or

spent;

• where or to what activity these funds were

transferred;

• when the transfers occurred; and

• who signed off or approved of these human

resources funding transfer to initiatives other than those for which the funds were originally appropriated for and approved by the Legislative Assembly of the day.

That’s the first question, Mr. Speaker. The second question is considerably shorter.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

My questions are for the Minister of Human Resources. Provide the following information:

1. Of the 161 GNWT positions that are categorized

as dormant and inactive, please provide the following information:

a) what are included in this category, by

department;

b) where are they located; and

c) a listing by position of the funding allocation

committed to each position.

2. With regard to the 571 jobs, the Human

Resources Minister has been quoted as saying “the GNWT is actively trying to fill,” please provide the following information:

a) What positions are included in this category

and where are they located?

b) How much funding is allocated for each

position?

c) Where have the job positions been

advertised?

d) How long have they been vacant?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, replies to budget address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of standing and special committees. Item 14, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 15, tabling of documents. Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, titled “Pathways to Wellness: An Updated Action Plan for Addictions and Mental Health 2014-2016.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, titled “Education Renewal and Innovation Engagement Update 2014.” Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, titled “Take a Kid Trapping and Harvesting Report 2012-2013.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 16, notices of motion. Item 17, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 18, motions. Item 19, first reading of bills. Item 20, second reading of bills. Item 21, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. We left off yesterday on general comments on the main estimates. What is the wish of committee today? Ms. Bisaro.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. We wish to conclude general comments on the budget and start with opening comments on the Department of Human Resources. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. Does committee agree?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Agreed. We’ll take a short break and resume.

---SHORT RECESS

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. We are on general comments on the 2014-15 Main Estimates. Are there any general comments? If not, are we ready to move on to the Department of Human Resources?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.