This is page numbers 4901 - 4934 of the Hansard for the 18th 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 work. View the webstream of the day's session.

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, through its Community Economic Development Organization, has been awarded a $500,000 prize by the Arctic Inspiration Prize Charitable Trust.

Mr. Speaker, the project is a joint venture between the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Gwich'in Tribal Council and fully supported by the Aurora Research Institute. Mr. Speaker, the concept is to develop an innovative process to support Northern Indigenous artists and crafters in the Western Arctic. The team will engage with artisans in each community and create an association of Indigenous artists and crafters across the region to work at developing sustainable business ventures; improving their art skills; ensuring authentic, high-quality products; and building confidence as sustainable business owners.

Mr. Speaker, the project will commence immediately and provide the business supports required to:

  1. establish a sustainable association of working artists and crafters who will support each other and the arts/crafts sector by building a critical mass in each community;
  2. remove barriers to venture creation by hiring two business managers for the association to manage the books, provide business services and counselling, promote the artists, create an online presence for sales, and develop markets.

Mr. Speaker, the project will also address long-standing challenges traditionally faced by Northern Indigenous artists, including but not limited to:

  • encouraging meaningful investment in artists/crafters;
  • addressing policies that hinder venture creation, tweaking them to be more encouraging and supportive;
  • building and maintaining the reputation for high-quality, authentic Northern Indigenous art; and
  • developing young artists to ensure that the continuity of traditional knowledge in the art and culture.

Mr. Speaker, the project team is a strong and collaborative partnership between the IRC, the GTC, and ARI that have the skills, expertise, resource, and passion required to move it from concept to successful completion and to inspire local artists, crafters, and the community members to embrace the vision and make the project their own. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate "Traditional techniques tweaked to inspire and galvanize Indigenous Northern artists" on their win at the Arctic Inspiration Prize 2019. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Eulogy for Madeline Marlowe
Members' Statements

Page 4904

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [English translation not provided]. I rise today to speak about the passing of an elder, Madelaine Marlowe, of Lutselk'e. Madelaine was born on May 5, 1932. She was born and raised in Lutselk'e and lived to be 86 years old, until she passed away on August 10, 2018. Madelaine was a well-respected elder, and she was a valuable knowledge-holder who will be missed by many.

Mr. Speaker, Madelaine is survived by seven children, Frank, Angelina (Angie), Fred, Catherine, James, Richard, plus 17 grandchildren, and countless other great-grandchildren, nephews, and nieces. Madeline is pre-deceased by her husband, Johnny Marlowe, and her three sons, Noel, Troy, and George Marlowe, and her granddaughter, Vanessa Marlowe.

Mr. Speaker, among many stories of Madeline's life, there are three in particular that I would like to share today. Firstly, in 2015, Madeline was among a group of 25 who received the Premier's Award for Collaboration with respect to their work with Lutselk'e Dictionary Project.

Another notable fact is that Madeline has a granddaughter, Tishna Marlowe, who is a fashion designer and accredits Madeline tremendously for her beading and sewing prowess. According to Tishna, she could not have achieved the success she's earned if it wasn't for Madeline's influence.

Thirdly, Mr. Speaker, I also want to acknowledge the fact that Madeline Marlowe is the mother to my Lutselk'e constituency assistant, James Marlowe. James has been a valuable and loyal member of my staff for many years. So to James, your family, I extend my condolences for your loss. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Eulogy for Madeline Marlowe
Members' Statements

Page 4904

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Our condolences to the family and to the community, as well. Masi. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam Lake.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to recognize a page, Ashley Sisson-Carlson from Kam Lake, and all the pages who have been helping us for our sitting. Thank you very much for the work that you do. Thank you.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 4905

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Hay River South.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to recognize my son, CJ, and he is here with his friend Sarah, who is a dedicated Air Canada stewardess who helps move tourists all around the world. That benefits the residents of the Northwest Territories, as well. Welcome to the House. Thank you.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 4905

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Range Lake.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to start with recognizing, again, my nephew Jeremy Beauchamp. It looks like he might be trying to take my seat here in the House. I am glad to have him. Then Suzie Napayok is the translator in Inuktitut. She lives in my constituency, so I am glad to see her. She is also is a great writer of books, with traditional knowledge from her culture, so a great asset to the Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 4905

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery, thanks for being here with us. It is always great to have an audience as part of our proceedings. Item 6, acknowledgments. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, in my Member's statement, I talked about the funding for the Divisional Education Authority for Deh Cho, which has eight communities. My first question for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment is: can the Minister please provide information on how the school funding framework works? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. How does the funding formula work right now? Right now, we provide money for schools to be able to provide services for JK to grade 12. It does have a funding formula that we feel is equitable, but it does also permit flexibility for the local decision-making that needs to be done by authorities.

Some of that is able to be flexible, such as our territorial school of monies. We also provide administration monies, but some of it is actually being changed, that it needs to be spent for things such as inclusive schooling and the Aboriginal languages. Those have to be spent on those areas specifically, but we try to be as flexible as possible.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I talk about the disparity between different regions here. I talk about the Sahtu has five communities or four communities. Is it four? Five, five communities, sorry, and four staff. In my riding, we have eight communities, including the Deh Cho riding, and we only have two staff. Can the Minister explain: if all education bodies have provided funding on an equitable basis, why are there different staffing levels at different divisional education and culture?

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Like I stated earlier, the funding formula is based so that it is equitable. There is money for administration et cetera, but there is money that is provided for the number of children in the schools. However, they are allowed to use that with some flexibility, and, therefore, some schools do decide to hire additional teachers; other schools decide to use it for other areas. There are also other monies besides, that come from the GNWT. A lot of the schools in the territory have access to our Canada's Jordan's Principle, which is providing additional monies for them. We need to get more schools to work with this, to work on this area. When we allow flexibility and when they can apply for outside sources of funding, that allows them the discretion to be able to hire additional teachers or not.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, when I talk about differences in funding formula and that, we are seeing a decline in our student population in the riding here. We lost 60 students this next coming year, so we are seeing a huge cut-back on positions and that. Can the Minister please provide what process is used to change the school funding framework?

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

The funding formula is reviewed on a regular basis. We try to work with our school authorities, school bodies, to make sure that it meets their needs, as well. In saying that, though, some things are addressed as the needs come up. For example, just after I assumed this position as Education, Culture and Employment Minister, when it was brought to my attention by the MLA from Nahendeh, who stated that we only had one teacher in small schools, that was an area of concern for me, and so I moved on that quite quickly to actually make sure that we have a minimum of two teachers in every single school in the Northwest Territories, so it is reviewed regularly.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for her answers to this point here. I guess my concern, though, is, when we talk about our divisional boards, when we only have two staff, we are going to burn those people out. They are going to be working really hard, and, you know, when you've got eight schools, it is very difficult for two people. They always going to be on the road, so it is a concern. When we don't even have the proper IT staff, you know, that is a concern.

Will the Minister make a commitment to do a cross-jurisdictional review of the funding formula?

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

It is a concern where we don't have enough teachers in schools. That is why, like I said earlier, I insisted that there be two teachers in every school. Some of our small schools, like the one I met with today, actually only have five students in it and now has two teachers in it, so we have to also be careful that we don't overload it so that we have more teachers than actual students at a time.

In saying that, though, we do need to review the funding formula. When I was in the constituency tour for Nahendeh, it was brought to my attention that other jurisdictions actually don't do the funding based on the same way that we do within the Northwest Territories. That was really interesting to learn, and so it taught me that this isn't a Canada-wide funding formula and that we need to review it. I have committed to the MLA, and I will continue to do that, is that we are looking at a cross-jurisdictional review within the next year, to see what other provinces and territories are doing and to make sure we are as fair as possible to our students in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, constituents and other members of the public have brought to me their concerns around wait times of six to 12 weeks to access mental health services, far greater than the government's own estimate of two to three weeks. Can the Minister of Health and Social Services respond to these concerns today with an updated and current estimate of the approximate wait times to access mental health care services in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, two things: number one, for issues that are critical or urgent, there really are no wait times. We triage these individuals right away, and, if the triage identifies it as being an urgent or a critical issue, they will see somebody right away.

However, the Member is correct. There are wait times for non-urgent counselling services here in the Northwest Territories, and some of them are quite long. Yellowknife, for adults, it is up to three months; for children, two months. In Behchoko, it is anywhere from four to five weeks' wait time for non-urgent counselling services. In Hay River, it is actually the worst in the territories, at about 35 weeks. I know the Member has raised a number of questions on that, and we are trying to find some solutions there. In Fort Smith, it is one to two weeks. In the smaller communities, we tend not to have the same kind of wait lists, typically. There are times when we may have vacancy or someone goes on holiday, that there might be a short-term wait list, but typically not in the smaller communities, but I do hear the Member.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

You know, a non-urgent issue can become an urgent if it is not addressed. Waiting eight months, I think it is a pretty significant wait time for people who are looking for that kind of care. The Minister mentioned urgent or critical cases. Can he share the policy that governs a critical or urgent case?