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 456

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

[Microphone turned off]

Page 456

The Chair Rocky Simpson

We can't hear you. I guess it sounds like it's dinner time, according to Ms. Chinna, so we will break for five minutes. We will have a recess for about 20 minutes. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Page 457

The Chair Julie Green

I'd like to call committee back to order. We are reviewing the budget for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Key activity, labour development and advanced education. Does anyone have any questions on this key activity? Member for Hay River South.

Page 457

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm on page 51, and trades and occupations wage subsidy. I see in 2018-2019, it was 655, and it got bumped up to almost double next year. What was the reason for that? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 457

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister.

Page 457

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. There was no change in the budget. Just the actuals were low that year because it was undersubscribed. Thank you.

Page 457

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.

Page 457

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess I should have looked at it. I didn't have my glasses on. With respect to the trades subsidy of $1,072,000, is that allocated by region or by need? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 457

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister.

Page 457

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. I'm going to hand this over to Mr. Saturnino who can, perhaps, provide a bit more detail. Thank you.

Page 457

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Saturnino.

Page 457

Saturnino

Thank you, Madam Chair. The trades and occupations wage subsidy is allocated at a regional level, and it's based on the number of apprentices distributed throughout the regions. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 457

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Mr. Saturnino. Member for Hay River South.

Page 457

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. If the wage subsidy program is not used up, what happens to the funds that are sitting there? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 457

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister.

Page 457

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. Just to be clear, the fund is distributed on a needs basis, basically first come, first served. It's not allocated per region, say a quarter or a fifth to each region. It's just first come, first served and needs. The funds that aren't allocated, they do not get spent, basically; they go back to the general coffers, just like any other budget line that is not fully spent. Thank you.

Page 457

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.

Page 457

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. One of the problems that I guess I found with the trades programs or with the trades, I guess, in itself, is that we do not have enough tradespeople to provide the ticket for which the apprentices can work under. Is there any intent or any interest in your department looking at other methods to make this happen? For instance, my understanding is that you have to have somebody on payroll, which to me means you pay somebody one dollar a year remuneration and that should be sufficient; would that be an option? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 457

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister.

Page 457

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. I am very familiar with this. I have had constituent businesses who have brought this issue to my attention time and time again, and I have had discussions with the department about what we can do to address this issue. Questions earlier in the House today reminded me of this. You know, dental hygienists can't perform their work because there are no dentists around. Similarly, apprentices can't get their hours and can't move to journeypersons because there are no journeypersons around. We have discussed some different approaches, and, in the mandate, we have an item in there that somewhat speaks to it in broad terms, that we are looking at ways to allow apprentices to get those hours without having that constant supervision of a journeyman around, whatever that might look like. That is not a fully formed plan yet, but the concept is there to address this exact need the Member is speaking about. Thank you.

Page 457

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.

Page 457

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess my understanding is the ratio is kind of two apprentices per journeyperson. Is that the ratio that is allowed right now? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 457

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister.

Page 457

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Correct, thank you.

Page 457

The Chair Julie Green

Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

Debates of March 3rd, 2020

Topics

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