Debates of Feb. 20th, 2017

This is page numbers 1779 – 1836 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd 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 program.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 138-18(2): Slave Geological Province Access Corridor

Minister’s Statement 139-18(2): Education, Training And Youth Development: Education, Culture And Employment Progress Statement

Expanding The Economy Through Investments In People

February Statutory Holiday Proposal

Return Of Fort Providence Minor Hockey Program

Regional Benefits Of Mackenzie Valley Highway Construction

Status Of Transboundary Water Agreements

Territorial Marine Resupply Services

Proposed Elimination Of Aurora College Social Work Program

Overflow Water On Beaufort Delta Highways

Connie Loutit Memorial Soccer Tournament

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Territorial Marine Resupply Services

Status Of Transboundary Water Agreements

Supports For The Agriculture Industry

Whati All-Season Road

Proposed Elimination Of Aurora College Programs

Proposed Elimination Of Aurora College Social Work Program

Status Of GNWT Open Government Policy

Overflow Water On Beaufort Delta Highways

Increased Investment In The Mineral Incentive Program

Impact Of Slave Geological Province Access Corridor Impact On Caribou Populations

Proposed Elimination Of Aurora College Programs

Tabled Document 287-18(2): Follow-Up Letter To Oral Question 525-18(2): Sahtu Regional Health Council

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act

Bill 18: An Act To Amend The Health And Social Services Professions Act

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Education, Culture And Employment, Deferral Of Education And Culture Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Education, Culture And Employment, Deferral Of Labour Development And Standards Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Education, Culture And Employment, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For The Department Of Education, Culture And Employment

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Committee Motion 53-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Education, Culture And Employment, Deferral Of Education And Culture Activity, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I may as well pick up where my colleagues left off. You know, it is a great increase to the small employment, as the Minister knows himself. You know, we are in demand of a lot of employment in our communities. The communities I represent are, you know, 34 per cent, 35 per cent, 39 per cent for the three communities that I represent, and it is good to see an opportunity to create jobs. One of my colleagues mentioned two days ago, just imagine if we could create 10 jobs in each community over the next three years. That is 90 jobs created, and I think that that is a good opportunity, but you know it would make a great difference if these funds are available April 1st. Can the department ensure that this is possible? Or even by the end of April? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. April 1st is the start of the new fiscal year. It is budgeted in the main estimates and, once the budget is approved, those funds will become available in the new fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Moses. Anything further, Members? Go ahead, Mr. Blake.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That sounds great. I know we were given the opportunity to start a committee of rural and remote communities, and you know this line item was listed under there. I am not sure whether there would be opportunities under the committee to make changes to how this pot of money is spent. That is usually how things operate under such committees, but I would just like to ask the Minister if that would be possible, like if this committee was struck, to sort of give direction to the department as to how these funds can be spent? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and we have been hearing all the feedback already from the back-and-forth, and it is something that we can bring to our rural and remote communities to get some feedback as well as direction, but also to the Social Development Committee as well. That is the oversight for this department, so we are definitely looking for feedback. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Blake.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Nothing but good news today. You know, that is good to hear. There are a lot of projects in my riding that I could say this will benefit. You know, we just have to work closely with the communities to ensure that they are aware of these funds, and I am sure the Minister will have a number of proposals before him shortly. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Nothing further.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Minister Moses, did you want to add to that or comment to that?

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

No. I just appreciate the Member's feedback. Thank you.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Moses. Questions. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a couple more, and since we are on small community employment I will stick with that for one moment. Barring that all goes well in terms of what we are trying to do in delivering these funds, what is the department's position in terms of trying to defend this pot of money to be there for the future and, you know, make this a sustainable pot of money? Or are we just looking at a one-time contribution and expecting to go back to the normal $340 to $400 range in years following? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and it has become a line item in these main estimates so it will be ongoing pending that we do get the uptake and that we do get our employers, our industry, business working with the department as well as our Aboriginal governments utilizing this pot of funding. As long as it gets the uptake and moving forward, we can continue to see it as a line item. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Literacy funding is obviously an important component to the success of reaching our goals and objectives as a territory, in particular helping those who are already in the workforce, but also getting many more into the workforce. Can we just get some clarification on why that pot of money has dropped by nearly $500,000 from 2015-16 to 2016-17 and now 2017-18? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In 2015-16 there was extra funding that the department had put into the program, but historically it is the amount that you see in this year's main estimates. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Okay, thank you, Mr. Chair. I think I am done with this activity. Thank you.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. Nakimayak.

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Getting back to the Small Community Employment Fund, I know some of my colleagues mentioned that, and yourself, as well, pertaining to wage subsidy on employment. Will this qualify for other projects some other departments of the GNWT will be working on in the remote communities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Nakimayak. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Pending that we have partnership with an organization in the community, I think it is going to be a possibility. Moving forward, we are working with the other departments on projects that they have, as well, through other areas, but pending that we do have those partnerships with organizations and have an employer that we can definitely deliver this, it would be a great idea following our Skills 4 Success as well as on-the-job training and the skill development for our residents. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of Feb. 20th, 2017

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