Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That focus is to create employment in our small communities across the Northwest Territories, as well as work on developing training opportunities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As you know, on April 1, 2017, there were significant enhancements to that program, with an influx of an extra $3 million. We made some changes to the program; part of that was actually looking at communities that weren't eligible before, and I'll say it again, these communities that were ineligible to apply for funding were Behchoko, Hay River, Inuvik, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, and Norman Wells.

As Members of this House do know, we have seen a downturn in the economy, and I think this is an opportunity to work with other communities that weren't eligible for this fund previously to offer those types of employment opportunities, as well offer some type of training for organizations and/or residents who might have lost jobs because of the downtown in the economy. I think it's a great step moving forward to ensure the training and employment is there in all of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, is the Minister aware of what the distribution of employment rates is across the NWT's small communities, regional centres, and Yellowknife?

Yes, I do. As I mentioned, the economy has taken a downturn; we do have more unemployed people in some of the communities, and I want to make sure that we focus on giving them every opportunity to get employment as well as develop their training and their skills.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a small community employment program was put in place because we have communities with employment rates below 50 per cent, below 40 per cent, some below 30 per cent, those are small communities. The communities that were added are communities that have employment rates at 60 and 70 per cent. We're trying to address employment where employment is needed most.

Why did the Minister not advise us in committee on the change that they're expanding the Small Community Employment Program, which was designed and put in place to increase employment in small communities where it's needed most? Expanding it into communities where employment rates are high, why did the Minister not advise us of that move?

As I mentioned, on April 1, 2017, we did get a significant increase in that funding, and prior years the funding that we did have in place wasn't fully utilized. With this increased funding I thought it would be a great opportunity to reach out to more communities to offer that type of training, skill development, as well as increase employment in our other communities that have seen an economic downturn as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to know what the Minister of Education's plan is to resolve overcrowding in Ecole St. Joseph's School. Thank you

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we could have a good discussion about utilization rates here in Yellowknife, where the utilization rates vary from school to school across the community. When we look at our utilization rates, we do assess them by community, and unfortunately here in Yellowknife we do see some schools that have some high utilization rates.

I can let the Member know that there was a review conducted at the schools in May and June with the staff from my department as well as the respective education districts. They walked through the schools, looked at spaces and what the spaces were being used for compared to what they were actually designed for. In some cases, spaces that were originally identified as classroom space were actually repurposed for things such as resource rooms, storage for school supplies, or even staff rooms.

We have a consultant that we did retain to prepare a space analysis and will provide recommendations to address space utilization here in Yellowknife. We are asking that YCS, too, wait until this review is completed so we can identify those capital requirements that will address space concerns and adequacy of schools for Yellowknife district education authorities.

I'd like to thank the Minister for providing that comprehensive explanation of the work that's being done on capacity; however, this school is at 97 per cent. Does the Minister agree that that is an unacceptable situation that needs to be resolved immediately?

Yes, and that's why we've had these discussions. That's why we went and did the review in the schools to make sure that the school space was actually being used for what they were intended to be used for. Yellowknife does have a history of space sharing agreements. For instance, once St. Joseph's students had to be accommodated as a result of a fire at their school; YK1, YCS did enter into a space sharing agreement. It has happened before.

Recently, YK1 and Commission Scolaire shared space with the Ecole William McDonald School while that school is undergoing construction for their addition, so there is history of space sharing agreements here in Yellowknife and I think we can continue to work on addressing that issue. Space sharing is a viable alternative to constructing additional space when space is already available here in Yellowknife.

The Minister indicated a number of emergency situations or temporary accommodations due to construction. I think there is a big difference between those circumstances and circumstances where policy changes have brought more students into the school than the school can contain. Will the Minister look at the possibility of modular classroom facilities and report back to both the House and the school board?

Currently, our utilization rates are a little different from the ones the Member presented. We are still waiting for official enrolment rates at the schools, and we are still working with both district education bodies to try to address this space sharing, the space issues that are arising in Yellowknife schools, so we are continuing to work with them to find a solution.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I suppose this is an ongoing issue with schools in Yellowknife, and I am pleased that the department is trying to lump them out because they are not all the same, and you cannot just take kids from one district and put them in another. You need to work with the school boards. Parents choose to put their kids in those school boards, and those school boards deserve the support, when we put programs like junior kindergarten and inclusive education into these schools. Again, I would like to ask the Minister: can the Minister answer if he has a cost for those modulars, what that cost would be, and if he is willing to pay it? Thank you.

Currently, I do not have those costs for modular in front of me. As I mentioned, we were waiting to see what the space analysis says and what recommendations are coming out of that report, and are prepared to make decisions when we see that report and look at those recommendations. We just ask that YCS, YK1, be patient and continue to work with us to find a solution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and you only had to ask me once today. Mr. Speaker, in all seriousness, earlier today I spoke about the important matter of us settling our land rights with the Indigenous people of the Northwest Territories. My questions today are for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, every session, I try to make a point of doing a Member's statement and asking oral questions on this matter. I would like to ask the Premier, since last May when he provided this House with the last update, I think it was around the time that the Ministerial special reports came out, has there been progress over the summer? Can the Minister update this House? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Ministerial special representative reports were a very important step in advancing Indigenous rights in the Northwest Territories, and were a key part of our commitment to look at new creative options to advance negotiations on land claims. After the MSR reports were issues, the Government of Canada, Minister Bennett and myself met separately with the Chiefs of the Akaitcho Territory, the presidents of the Northwest Territories Metis nation, and the Dehcho Grand Chief and leaders to review the report and to discuss next steps. In the case of the Akaitcho and the NWT Metis Nation, new offers with a range of options and increased flexibility were tabled within 45 days to both the Akaitcho and the NWT Metis Nation. With regards to the Dehcho, the Dehcho received a letter from Minister Bennett and myself seeking confirmation from the Dehcho First Nations that there is common ground on two fundamental issues that have challenged negotiations for many years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.