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

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, with the new Canada Child Benefit, it is not looked as income anymore, so like I mentioned earlier we have more families that are on income assistance that are receiving considerably a lot more dollars. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

I think I will just leave it. Thank you.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Seeing no further questions or comments from the committee, please turn to page 40, Education, Culture and Employment, income security, operations expenditure summary, $48,766,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, committee. We will proceed on to the next activity, labour, development and standards. The activity description is found on page 43. The activity detail is on page 44 and related information items are found on pages 45 to 47. We will start with 45 to 47. Questions? Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I understand that attracting immigrants to the Northwest Territories is a priority. I am wondering what actions the department will be taking in the next fiscal year to pursue increased immigration. Thank you.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are currently developing an immigration strategy. The good news is our nominations program has been increasing by about 25 per cent each year, and last year we actually reached our goal and actually went above and beyond. I believe a total in 2016 we had 128, which was above what is normally seen. We continue to promote that program, as well as working with ITI on the business side, but we are developing an immigration strategy right now in partnership with ITI. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Moses. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, could the Minister share with us what the goal is for the nomination program for 2017-18? Thank you.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I believe it is 100, and I am pretty sure that we are going to go above and beyond that again if we get the same applications that we did this past year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Moses. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, it sounds like the goal for 2017-18 is lower than it was for 2016-17; do I have that right? Thank you.

February 20th, 2017

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Actually our goal for the last fiscal year was at 80 and we got above that, so we are just making it reflective of the number of applications we are getting, and it will change from year to year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Moses. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, what additional resources does the department put in to the increased nomination program goal? When it goes from 80 to 100, what is the extra money that is being spent by the department to meet that goal? Thank you.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and there are no additional resources. We believe that we have a strong division in the Immigration Division that is able to address the increase in numbers that we are seeing. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Moses. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So Mr. Chair, are we as a government actively looking for nominees for this program or are we just accepting applications as they come in? Thank you.

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Moses.

Debates of Feb. 20th, 2017

Topics

Help us improve OpenNWT