Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm surprised my colleague from Frame Lake didn't ask it. Is there any update on renaming the Prince of Wales Heritage Centre, and maybe we could consider asking the Prince of Wales to pay for that $170 million upgrade if he wants to keep his name on it. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Debates of March 1st, 2022
This is page numbers 3603 - 3664 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 know.
Topics
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
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Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
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Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
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R.J. Simpson Hay River North
Thank you. So the idea was to look at the revenue study and figure out how we are going to support the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre to fulfill the legal -- our legal obligations to store archives and wrap it all up in one package with a name change. And so that work is all happening.
I will say that, you know, a revenue study is looking at more than just charging admissions. I mean, you could look at number of people through the door and multiply that by two and then you know how much you would make for charging people $2 to get into the heritage centre. So it's more than that. It's looking at, you know, things such as rental spaces, gift shops, but primarily, what I think might be the biggest thing, is the third party funding.
We are the only jurisdiction that funds their museum a hundred percent from the government. Generally, these are not funded by government but third parties. And so the hope would be that we could access some things like that in terms of, you know, the archives and perhaps future art galleries. We're also looking at the growth of Aurora College and what that might mean when we look at a new polytechnic facility. So all that to say that things are proceeding quite slowly, and I feel the Member's frustration, but that is the pace of government and I will apologize for it. Thank you.
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
Page 3631
The Chair Lesa Semmler
Thank you. Are there any further questions under culture, heritage and language?
Seeing no further questions, please turn to page 36. Education, Culture and Employment, culture, heritage, and language, operation expenditures summary, 2022-2023 Main Estimates, $21,251,000. Does committee agree?
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
Page 3631
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
Page 3631
The Chair Lesa Semmler
Thank you, committee. So we will move on to early learning and child care beginning on page 41, with information items on page 42, 43. Questions? No questions? Member for Yellowknife North.
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
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Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North
Thank you, Madam Chair. Can the Minister just explain to me why we just signed a big agreement with Canada for -- Early Learning and Childcare Agreement but there's no increase here? Is that just because that money has to come forward in a SUP? Thank you.
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
Page 3631
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
Page 3631
R.J. Simpson Hay River North
That's correct. If I may use the Member's time to clarify my statement earlier. I'm not apologizing for the pace of the work that we do in terms of saying that we are slow and employees are slow; I'm saying that it's a big job and that's why it takes a long time. It's just government but people are working hard on all of these things that the Members are bringing up.
And, yes, the Member is correct that the agreement was signed well after this was finalized by the printer so we will have to get that money through a different method. Thank you.
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
Page 3631
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
Page 3631
Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North
Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. I guess I look forward to seeing the SUP going forward in this fiscal that we're reviewing now I guess next fiscal, and I'll have a number of questions then.
But it's my understanding that we're actually hoping to reimburse some people who have already paid childcare costs in this calendar year. Can I just get an update of how that work is going and when we expect that to occur? Thank you.
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
Page 3631
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
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R.J. Simpson Hay River North
Thank you. So I will be having a discussion with the federal minister in a public forum in the coming days, and we'll be discussing what the program's going to look like as it rolls out. So I'd be happy to have those conversations at a future date. Thank you.
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
Page 3631
The Chair Lesa Semmler
Thank you. Any further questions on early child -- early learning and childcare? Member for Kam Lake.
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
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Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I was happy, on page 42, to see a substantial increase to the Early Childhood Infrastructure Fund. I'm wondering if the Minister can let us know how many communities do not currently have licensed childcare? Thank you.
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
Page 3631
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
Page 3631
R.J. Simpson Hay River North
Thank you. I'm not sure what the number today is. It does vary between 11 and 13, and so I suspect that it's still between 11 and 13. And it looks like it's 13 today. Thank you.
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
Page 3631
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
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Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Building infrastructure in the NWT is very, very expensive, and childcare facilities are not immune to the costs of building. And so I know that using existing structures, infrastructure, especially in smaller communities, is key. So I'm wondering if the Minister knows if the policy work to be able to run licensed day homes out of public housing has been completed? Thank you.
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
Page 3632
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
Page 3632
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
Page 3632
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
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Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. While I know that this is not NWT Housing Corp's day, this is something that definitely has an impact on childcare in communities. Does the Minister of ECE know when this work will be complete?
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
Page 3632
Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 - Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 2nd
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R.J. Simpson Hay River North
Thank you. No, I don't but I want to temper everyone's expectation that this is -- I don't think this will be a silver bullet, and I think in fact there might be very few units that might even be available for licensed childcare. So the work is underway but we don't have an anticipated completion date yet. Thank you.