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 454

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Member for Yellowknife North.

Page 454

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess I kind of want to save myself time asking every department that has Jordan's Principle funding applying to it and flowing through it. Once again, I know this is a federal government initiative, but perhaps, I am looking at the Minister of Finance, we could have a breakdown of the total Jordan's Principle funding that is existing within the GNWT right now?

Page 454

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Page 454

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. I can work with the Minister of Finance to figure that out. The amount that exists in the department of Education, Culture and Employment is zero because this is money that is applied for by the education councils, not by us. Thank you.

Page 454

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife North.

Page 454

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Yes, thank you, and I recognize that, and that is the complication of me asking these questions. You have committed to reviewing the funding formula, but, to me, the conversation about the funding formula really is not complete without recognition that there are millions of dollars in the system that is not ours. I think that figure is extremely important to all conversations going forward. Moving on, I wanted to Northern Distance Learning. I understand we are in phase 3 right now. Are we meeting our expansion goals, and can you give me an idea of what communities are next?

Page 454

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Page 454

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. Yes, we are meeting the goal we set out three years ago now. We will be expanding in the coming year to 20 communities. Thank you.

Page 454

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife North.

Page 454

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you. I am happy to hear that is on track, and I look forward to further expansion. My next question is: the Education Act will be coming forward in the life of this Assembly. I am glad we are going to have the conversation about the funding formula. Can I just confirm that the scope of the Education Act amendments will include allowing us to devolve education to Indigenous governments should it be desired?

Page 454

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Page 455

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. I think this would likely be more of a repeal-and-replace than a few amendments here and there. One of the main considerations is the fact that the Member just referenced that we need a piece of legislation that allows Indigenous governments to devolve the authorities that they have that our legislation currently doesn't allow. Thank you.

Page 455

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Next up is the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Page 455

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just going to add some questions to carry on from what my colleague from Yellowknife North mentioned about Jordan's Principle. I think there are two or three some of the schools already that are affected by this. I think it is really important. It kind of runs in parallel with a lot of the DEA work that is going on. My question I had for this was: how is this federal program going to affect the overall budget going forward? I know it's a pretty broad question, but is this going to be one of those programs that is going to run alongside it? Is it going to be for the better of the overall budget for education going forward? Thank you.

Page 455

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Page 455

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. Our budget is going to continue to be our budget. Then there is this supplementary funding coming from the federal government. In the long term, like the previous Member stated, we do have to consider this. Is there a need for these 173 positions? If there is, why aren't they being funded from within the department? Why isn't that part of our funding formula? These are big conversations we have to have.

Some of the schools I have been to have an amazingly high amount of Jordan's Principle workers there, whether they are support assistants or teachers. You talk to the teachers in those schools, and they say they can't run their class without those assistants because there are students who just need somebody with them, not to take them out of the class, but just to give them a little more attention. Without those additional adult bodies in the room, classes become a little more disruptive, and it is hard for anyone to learn. It is going to be a major discussion over the coming years for sure. Thank you.

Page 455

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Page 455

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to the Minister for his response. I did hear the word "entrenched" going forward. To me, that sounds like at some point the Minister one of his colleagues will be lobbying for more federal funding for this program. Is that what I'm hearing? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 455

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Page 455

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. Absolutely. This has become vital. I think the feds see a need for it, and I can't speak for them. I can't say if it is entrenched. We could have a new government, and they could get drastically slashed. When I speak with the appropriate ministers, I will definitely be speaking to the value of this. Thank you.

Page 455

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Page 455

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have nothing further.

Page 455

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. If there are no further questions, please turn to page 41. Education, Culture and Employment, early childhood and school services, operations expenditure summary, 2020-2021 Main Estimates, $202,806,000. Does committee agree?

Page 455

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Page 455

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. Next item will be income security beginning on page 45, with information item on page 48. Questions. Minister.

Debates of March 3rd, 2020

Topics

Help us improve OpenNWT