The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment.

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to wrap up another school year, I want to highlight a number of exciting initiatives that reflect our government's commitment to improve student outcomes in the Northwest Territories. This semester, three high schools in the territory piloted the new Northern Studies 30 curriculum. This made-in-the-NWT high school course is the first in the territory to follow British Columbia's curricular framework. Topics range from oral history and traditions to historical land use, colonization, language reclamation, NWT treaties and land claim agreements, consensus government, and Arctic sovereignty. It also delves into the role of social media, mental health and addictions, and cultural appropriation.

Mr. Speaker, we are already seeing meaningful discussions and learning take place as part of this curriculum. At Ulukhaktok's school, elders advised and guided students to build an igloo village. This led to conversations about past, present, and future housing challenges in the North. Now, equipped with a deeper understanding, the class is working with elders and planning to build a permanent, accessible outdoor meeting space.

Mr. Speaker, this example highlights the benefits of hands-on, practical instruction based on competencies. This is core to the new, adapted junior kindergarten to grade 12 curriculum we will begin trialing in several grades this fall.

The British Columbia curriculum is modern, flexible, and emphasizes Indigenous perspectives and knowledge. It focuses on literacy and numeracy, not just reading, writing, and math but also communicating and problem solving. Rather than students memorizing definitions and dates, this curriculum encourages interaction and engagement. Students are empowered to get involved in their own education.

The curriculum committees made up of educators from across the NWT are working to adapt this modern curriculum to the NWT context. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment has finalized several major steps toward implementing the curriculum, including the timeline for each school year, new graduation requirements, and the schedule for educator training.

Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to talk about the excellent online education tool we have renewed this year, the NWT Historical Timeline. From origin stories to present day events, this timeline depicts the history, cultures, and people that make up this territory. It features photos and documents from the NWT Archives, as well as objects from the museum's collection including artwork, tools, clothing and more. This valuable resource makes these stories, photos, pivotal events, and ways of life accessible to not just students and educators but to everyone in the territory and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, an update on education would not be complete without recognition of those at the forefront of this work. In every community and in every school, our educators and school staff play a vital role in student success. It was my privilege earlier today to recognize the inductees of the 2023 Northwest Territories Education Hall of Fame. I would like to extend my congratulations once again to this year's inductees. These remarkable individuals are truly making a difference in the lives of children, students, educators and communities, and I thank them for their dedication and passion. We have many with us in the gallery today, and at the appropriate time I will be recognizing them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. June is Seniors Month, a time for us to recognize the important role of seniors in our families, communities, and the territory. They connect us with language, land, and culture, and bridge the past with the future.

Under the mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2019-2023, we are supporting this role by enabling seniors to age in place with dignity. We want to help seniors to remain at home for as long as they are able. In order to be successful, we must address the core issues. We collaborated across government and engaged seniors, their families and caregivers, municipal and Indigenous governments, and community organizations, to determine how we can improve programs, services, and initiatives to better meet the needs of seniors. The feedback we received helped the department to develop the Seniors Strategic Framework that will shape future efforts across government. The framework will be tabled this August.

Mr. Speaker, throughout the engagement process, we heard from seniors about their desire to be valued and included in meaningful ways in their communities. Today marks Intergenerational Day. Here is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and reach out across generations, fostering understanding, respect, and meaningful relationships.

Seniors want to connect with children, youth and adults alike, and share stories, culture, traditions, and wisdom drawn from a lifetime of experiences. Having strong intergenerational bonds not only contributes to wellness but also fosters a deep sense of belonging in communities. We need to recognize that many seniors experience isolation and loneliness which poses serious risks to their physical and mental well-being as well as makes them vulnerable to elder abuse. I encourage everyone to reach out and spend time with the seniors in their lives and communities today and every day.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to acknowledge that World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is coming up on June 15th. The United Nations established this day to create awareness and encourage dialogue about all types of abuse and neglect seniors face. Governments, communities, and families must all play pivotal roles in safeguarding the well-being and safety of seniors. The Government of the Northwest Territories is reinforcing this point by providing a poster and fact sheet about the different types of abuse seniors face. These resources are available on the Department of Health and Social Services website and will be distributed to communities this summer.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I urge all residents to join me in celebrating the role that seniors play in our lives and to recognize their important contributions to create healthy and vibrant families and communities across the NWT. They have laid the groundwork for everything we plan to further improve and accomplish, a foundation that is critical to the future of the territory Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission.

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission is always looking for new ways to support employers and create a safer workplace in the Northwest Territories. Through ongoing communication and engagement with employers, the WSCC identified an opportunity to improve their services and provide additional supports for employers facing occupational health and safety challenges that is separate from their role as an enforcer of the Safety Act through penalties and fines.

Mr. Speaker, the WSCC is proud to introduce the new positions of safety outreach representative. These new positions will provide employers with technical expertise, analysis, consultation, and collaboration of services to improve workplace occupational health and safety programs, meeting occupational health and safety regulatory requirements and ultimately improve workplace safety outcomes. The WSCC's mandate is to promote and improve health and safety in the workplace. These new positions will help to achieve this by supporting employers in their understanding of occupational health and safety roles and responsibilities.

Mr. Speaker, safety outreach representatives will accomplish this through collaboration with employers and by providing resources and guidance to create or improve safety programs.

Mr. Speaker, these safety outreach representatives can directly help employers by helping them develop an OHS program, providing them with technical expertise to identify best practices to reduce workplace incidents, and sharing educational resources to improve OHS outcomes in the workplace.

Mr. Speaker, the WSCC wants to assure employers that safety outreach representatives are not safety officers. They do not have the mandate to enforce regulations and laws and are not going to provide safety officers with information that could lead to an inspection or penalty. This is a proactive, supportive step that does not penalize employers for requiring guidance to improve occupational health and safety outcomes at their workplaces.

Mr. Speaker, although safety outreach representatives will reach out to employers, and the WSCC hopes employers will take the advantage of this new non-penalty supporting and making their workplaces even safer.

Mr. Speaker, it is also important to note that this improved service is provided by reallocating existing resources within the WSCC. Employers will not incur any additional costs and their rates will not increase as a result of these new resources.

Mr. Speaker, the three safety outreach representatives at the WSCC are hired and in place. Two are located at the WSCC office here in Yellowknife and one ready to support employers in the Northwest Territories. The third is in the WSCC's office in Iqaluit, providing support to Nunavut employers. The WSCC aims to reduce workplace incidents and injuries and these safety outreach representatives are a great resource to help employers within their own workplaces. Together, we can achieve our vision of eliminating workplace diseases and injuries. Any employer who is looking to improve health and safety in the workplace can contact the WSCC and request support from one of our safety outreach representatives today.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to add that my colleague in Nunavut is delivering a similar announcement and statement today as well. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment.

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Mr. Speaker, in 2021 the Government of the Northwest Territories released the Northwest Territories Arts Strategy, a 10-year plan to improve NWT's arts programs and services and strengthen the territory's arts sector. The first key action identified in the strategy was to complete a review of the GNWT's arts programs so that we could have a better understanding of the changes required to help us achieve our goals for the sector.

The results of this review were released in November as part of the Arts Program Review Report, reflecting the thoughts and concerns of NWT artists, craftspeople, and arts and cultural organizations. The report identifies areas of strength and weakness and provides recommendations on how to improve arts programs and services to better serve NWT residents. The GNWT will soon release its official response to these recommendations, providing a list of planned actions, their expected outcomes, and anticipated completion dates.

Mr. Speaker, a great deal of work has been taking place behind the scenes to advance the arts strategy. We are updating departmental arts mandates, implementing a way to continuously monitor and assess the effectiveness of our programs and funding, improving how artists can find and access funding, and making improvements to arts funding programs, eligibility requirements and distribution.

This government invests approximately $2.9 million dollars in arts funding programs each year, but we know that changes can still be made to funding structures to better support NWT artists. In recognition of this, we are restructuring our existing funding programs, so they provide support to artists and arts and cultural organizations at all sizes and stages of their development.

Emerging and mid-career artists, small groups, and artists from small communities will be eligible for grants of up to $5,000 per year for small-scale arts projects. Established artists and arts and culture organizations can receive up to $10,000 per year for medium-sized arts projects. For large-scale arts projects, events, and festivals that bring vibrancy and economic benefits to our communities, organizations will be able to apply for $10,000 to $100,000 per year. Arts and cultural organizations that operate year-round will be eligible to access operational funding that will provide them with $20,000 to $200,000 per year.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment partners with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment on implementing the arts strategy. I am happy to hear that ITI is currently developing artist guidelines for the Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development, or SEED funding, as it pertains specifically to arts stakeholders. To bring it all together, Mr. Speaker, ECE and ITI will develop and release a GNWT Arts Funding Roadmap that explains which department provides funding for different types of activities, making supports more accessible to artists, groups, and organizations. The announcement of this roadmap is expected in the coming months.

Mr. Speaker, the arts contribute to a strong economy and enhance shared community identity and belonging. The GNWT is committed to making meaningful changes to government arts programs and funding to help establish a strong and valued arts sector that benefits everyone living in the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I say it numerous times throughout this Assembly that Fort Smith is home to some of the oldest school infrastructure in the territory, and it is also home to some of the last remaining former residential school and indian day school buildings that are still in active use in the country. The buildings I'm referring to are PWK High School and JBT Elementary School.

Mr. Speaker, JBT School is 65 years old and was originally a federal Indian Day School until the building was purchased by the Government of the Northwest Territories and was converted into an elementary school which is still being used for that purpose today. In addition, the former Grandin College used to be run by the Catholic Church as a residential school until the Government of the Northwest Territories bought it and converted it to PWK High School. Since then, it has continued to be used as the former residential school building as PWK High School in Fort Smith.

Mr. Speaker, Fort Smith is the centre for education in the NWT. It always has been and always will be, and I want to stress that we have excellent staff all around. Fort Smith has some extremely caring and devoted educators so I do not want to knock them at all in talking about the historical legacy of JBT or PWK schools.

So my point is the links between federal Indian Day Schools and residential school is undeniable. They are extensions of the same systems of colonialism, oppression, and assimilation towards Indigenous people. Therefore, I believe it is totally inappropriate and unacceptable for these buildings to continue being used as schools for our youth of today. If the young people of Fort Smith knew and understood the history of those buildings, I am sure they would feel unsure of the school they attend because I know that most, if not all the staff there, know of the history as do the parents and grandparents of the students who attend there today. Does our curriculum even teach or acknowledge this residential school and Indian Day School legacy that still remains in Fort Smith and the NWT? Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the statement by the Minister today on acknowledging what I was trying to say.

Mr. Speaker, both these schools are 65 and 61 years old so it's high time that they are decommissioned and replaced with brand new schools for the people of Fort Smith. It doesn't matter if either school has been maintained well and can still be used longer; the bottom line is these schools carry a heavy legacy and the youth of the future deserve better. Fort Smith needs a brand new state-of-the-art-school for both elementary and high school students so I am going to once again ask our government to follow their own capital needs assessment and replace the aging schools in Fort Smith. I will have questions for the Minister of ECE at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Members' statements. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I went home to attend a meeting to discuss the operation and opening of the new fish plant in Hay River. Discussion on the subject lasted for four hours and was very informative and positive. However, another topic that arose outside that discussion was that of the Evacuee Income Disruption Support Program.

Mr. Speaker, fishers, and other self-employed business owners, have been affected by the evacuation order imposed by the Town of Hay River and K'atlodeeche. They have not only lost wages but lost business income as well and are unsure whether this program applies to them. I assured them it did and recommended they fill out an application if they wished to be considered for the $750 payment.

Mr. Speaker, the meeting about the fish plant ended around two in the afternoon at which time I went back to my office and found a lineup of evacuees, some with their children. They included both KFN and Hay River residents, some who were employed, some self-employed, some unemployed, some on income assistance, and some were pensioners; all were there to fill out the application for the $750 support promised by this government.

Mr. Speaker, each shared with me their stories and reasons of why they needed that $750 and why it was important they receive it as quickly as possible. Most of the people I met with were very stressed and traumatized by this event. Some I met with were crying as there was no other financial support options available to them except for what this government is providing.

The reasons for needing immediate support included:

• Limited savings and income;
• The need to pay rent or a mortgage payment;
• The need to put food on the table;
• The need for basic necessities; and,
• The need for temporary shelter.

Mr. Speaker, it is times such as this that we, as government, must show our compassion and go the extra mile to make sure people are listened to and supported in a fair and timely manner. And, Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what each of the evacuees are looking for when it comes to the Evacuee Income Disruption Support Program. Thank you.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Members' statements. Member for Great Slave.