Debates of March 3rd, 2020

This is page numbers 437 - 482 of the Hansard for the 19th 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 going.

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Promoting Importance of Oral Health

Trades Apprenticeships

Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Policy on Rent Scales

Whati Housing Plan

Affirmative Action Policy

Health System Navigator

Regulatory Change to Improve Preventative Oral Health

Implementation and Promotion of Environmental Rights Act

Indigenous Languages Promotion and Revitalization

Ms. Green's Reply

Trades Apprenticeships

Rent Scale Policy Review

Anti-Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) Legislation

Process Convention

Affirmative Action Policy

Promoting Indigenous Official Languages

Oral Health Report

Arnica Inn Transitional Housing Project

Review of Rent Scale Policy on Income Verification

Full-time Psychologist for Children and Youth for Treatment Centre

Written Question 6-19(2): Educational Facilities

Tabled Document 47-19(2): "Our Ever Awesome NWT Brushing Song!" Book by Richard Van Camp and Neiva Mateus

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Tabled Document 30-19(2): Main Estimates 2020-2021 - Justice - Deferral of Further Consideration of the Estimates for the Department of Justice

Tabled Document 30-19(2): Main Estimates 2020-2021 - Education, Culture and Employment - Deferral of Further Consideration of the Estimates for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, carried

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 3-19(2): Tabled Document 30-19(2): Main Estimates 2020-2021 - Justice - Deferral of Further Consideration of the Estimates for the Department of Justice, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 449

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister.

Page 449

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. I know that we still offer scholarships for Indigenous languages, and we have Indigenous language broadcasting money in the contributions section, instead of the grants section. There's been a bit of a reallocation. I believe these were program-specific, the ones from 2018-2019. I can get more details on that, though, for the Member, if that's okay, Madam Chair.

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The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Member for Kam Lake.

Page 449

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much for that, Madam Chair. I'd appreciate that. I just want to make sure that we haven't gotten rid of our Indigenous language scholarships. Speaking of which, I'm wondering if the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has any type of formal interpreter or translator program available, given our need for cultural resurgence within the Northwest Territories and for professional translators. Thank you.

Page 449

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister.

Page 449

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. We have a number of programs that we are undertaking. I might as well just hand it over to my deputy minister, I think. She's very involved with this one, and she might get a more detailed answer. Thank you.

Page 449

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Deputy Minister.

Page 449

Mueller

Thank you, Madam Chair. There is a lot of different work that we are doing in supporting the revitalization of Indigenous languages. We very much know, and we hear from our Indigenous government partners, that, ultimately, we need to build up the cohort of translators and interpreters throughout the Northwest Territories, in all of our Indigenous languages, especially in light of so many of our proficient translators and interpreters right now are close to retirement.

With that in mind, though, we are in a place where we're trying to build not only people's interests, but, I would say, their beginning levels of proficiency, so that they have the foundation in order to be able to take a translator and interpreter type of program. We have been working with the University of Victoria, which has really exciting programs in Indigenous language revitalization, from entry-level certificates all the way to master's degree programs. They've been a good partner to us, and we continue to strengthen that partnership.

We also look to Aurora College as a partner to be able to deliver those programs, so kind of a three-way partnership between UVic, Aurora College, and our departments su pporting that. Thank you.

Page 449

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Deputy Minister. Member for Kam Lake.

Page 449

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you very much for that, Madam Chair. I really appreciate that information, and I think it will be really interesting to be able to see how that program is doing and the graduates that come out of it over the course of this government. I think that's very exciting. I am wondering if the Minister would be willing to reflect on the significant increase in travel under the culture, heritage, and languages page, which went from actuals in 2018-2019 of $177,000, to the main estimates of $368,000, and I'm wondering if the Minister can speak to how that will improve the cultural, heritage, and languages program, and how that is a benefit to the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Page 449

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister.

Page 449

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, that increase to travel was to support training opportunities for Indigenous governments. Thank you.

Page 449

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Member for Kam Lake. Further comments on this section? Member for Hay River South.

Page 449

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. With respect to page 37, the arts council of $700,000, also the contributions for the $460,000 for the arts organizations operating funding and the support to northern performers, $101,000. Are these funds totally subscribed, and how are they split up around the NWT? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 449

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister.

Page 449

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. I would like to hand that to my deputy minister if you don't mind.

Page 449

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Deputy Minister.

Page 449

Mueller

Thank you, Madam Chair. In response, looking at the arts council and the funding available, the $700,000, that is done by application. Then, a committee goes through all those applicants. It is done twice a year so that people have an opportunity throughout the year to put in their applications. Then, all the funding is distributed based on the applications and the criteria as it was deemed appropriate by the arts council. As far as the other grants that we have, we really do distribute that by application. People apply, indicate what they would like the funding for, and the funding available is distributed. Thank you.

Page 449

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Deputy Minister. Member for Hay River South.

Page 449

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess part of my question was: how was this spread across the NWT? The funding, is it located, say, mostly in Yellowknife? Is that where most of the applications come from, or is it equally distributed? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 449

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister.

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R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. We are working on gathering that information. To further answer the Member's earlier question, these pots of money are all fully subscribed. Thank you.

Page 450

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.

Page 450

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. We have $1 million here, roughly. Is there any kind of full-time employment created? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 450

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister.

Debates of March 3rd, 2020

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