Debates of Feb. 13th, 2026

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is the first year that Aurora College is doing their new online version of their adult learning, and so we'll have to kind of give it some time to see how this year goes, how the results fair out, and so as soon as I have some updated information from Aurora College, once they've had the time to assess, then I would happily share that with Members from the other side. I think it's going to be really interesting to see the growth of online in the Northwest Territories, especially as we see more programming at Aurora College also shift to some online options to really open up the access to some of these programs, like for example, the diploma in nursing as well, that I know has shifted to an online option too for part of it, so more of a hybrid option.

We're also seeing more success with northern distance learning, which is an option for students up to the age of 21. So we're seeing in the Deh Cho region specifically with northern distance learning an almost 70 percent successful completion rate, which is really good news.

And I can also share with Members of the House that I came to work early this morning to sign off on completion certificates for the Canadian Adult Education Credentials, so more and more Northerners are also taking advantage of that pathway as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the education Minister about how we can provide more certainty to education authorities given the loss of Jordan's Principle funding. So, of course, the interim support initiative funding has been essential in tiding over education authorities for the current year by helping them hire the needed education assistants. However, that funding doesn't have the same flexibility as Jordan's Principle, and schools have struggled with less access to behaviour consultants, educational assessments, speech therapy, other sorts of things.

Now, I understand the Minister has been in regular communication with school board officials, and that helps, but I think we're all looking for more specific information to get more certainty around planning and budgeting.

So my first question relates to, there was an expectation that the federal minister would make an announcement either late last year or early this year addressing how Jordan's Principle funding might work going forward for northern Indigenous families. Is the Minister aware of any updated timelines on when we will hear from the federal government about a decision about the restoration of Jordan's Principle to the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have not received an update from the federal government on when I can expect, along with the rest of the country, to receive information on an updated criteria for Jordan's Principle. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So that continues to be a big worry, and people are looking for contingency planning. So what further details about our own contingency planning can be shared now with the public and with school boards? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

So, Mr. Speaker, I last sat down with all of my education partners in November of 2025, and as you can imagine Jordan's Principle was a leading topic that we discussed. I've also had the opportunity to speak with multiple chairpersons of multiple education bodies about this same subject. And, really, from where I am at right now is requesting feedback on the support assistants initiative from education leaders across the territory. So I have asked them, how is it going, how has it worked out, and for their feedback on the program that we were able to stand up here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, on the subject of that interim support initiative funding, what more can the Minister do to help schools access funding for the lost supports that have not yet been restored, such as behaviour consultants, educational assessments, speech therapy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the timing of the changes to Jordan's Principle, along with some work that was already being done within the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, really was a bit of a blessing in disguise. So we were already in the process of reviewing our inclusive schooling directive. And that really is where, I feel, we need to focus our energy in, so that we're not looking at band-aid solutions but we're looking at really evolving how our inclusive schooling program works in the Northwest Territories.

I can share with the Member that just literally in real time, superintendents from across the territory are reviewing the management response to the What we Heard Report from the work that was done through multiple engagements, both in person, online, in written format, across this territory. It was a very well participated review, and so that is where our focus is. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to return to the Minister of strategic infrastructure. And my next round of questioning is going to be framed around who is representing the city of Yellowknife's interest in the 50 percent of our economy, Mr. Speaker.

Will the Minister of strategic infrastructure sign a memorandum of agreement, or a cooperation partnership agreement, with the City of Yellowknife to ensure 50 percent of the northern economy doesn't get boxed out and becomes a partner, as pointed out by the infrastructure Minister earlier today?

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. Minister responsible for Strategic Infrastructure, Energy, and Supply Chains.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I meet frequently with the city. I have presented at the city quite recently, and I am happy to continue to have those discussions with the city to see what best way we can continue to work together and to discuss with them the state of the project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister be interested in signing a formal agreement with respect to the Arctic Economic Security Corridor noting that the city of Yellowknife's interests will be represented at the table in some form, and it should highlight as a clear non-starter that the city of Yellowknife will not be excluded from this initiative. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the mayor of the city of Yellowknife has not expressed any concern of being excluded of the project. And, Mr. Speaker, we have done a lot of work on the current MOU and signed an MOU right now with the two landholding groups. We're going to follow through with commitments in that, which includes ensuring that there's economic benefits for all Northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am confused if the Minister thinks it only has to come from the mayor, not MLAs. I mean, I am concerned about the less value it's viewed on our opinion, Mr. Speaker. The question is, the GNWT paid 75 to 25 cent dollars on the Highway No. 9 project. It should include the city of Yellowknife because this legislature is paying it. Will the Minister agree to investigate and discuss with colleagues, such as myself, to make sure the city of Yellowknife's interest is represented in this initiative, this territorial initiative? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Final supplementary. Minister responsible for Strategic Infrastructure, Energy, and Supply Chains.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I've already signed an MOU that says that we are committed to drive significant economic activity for Indigenous and northern residents and communities through responsible and environmentally sustainable critical mineral development. That is what the MOU that we just signed says, Mr. Speaker. I intend to follow through on that. I am more than happy to present on this project to committees, to MLAs, to the mayor, to the city, whoever wants to have those conversations. We are only at a stage of development, but quite frankly we're behind. We need to get this moving, and fighting about it and suggesting that we're not moving or suggesting that we're not working together or suggesting that there's someone who feels left out, isn't helping, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for Strategic Infrastructure, Energy, and Supply Chains. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to follow up with the Minister of education along the previous line of questioning around Jordan's Principle funding.

So, given that we can't wait indefinitely before budgeting and planning for next year, has the Minister given the federal government or the federal minister some deadline as to when we need to hear something, when we need a decision by, in order for us to do our own planning for the next school year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I really wish that I could give the federal government a deadline, but the federal government has their own work processes that they follow. We did expect to hear in the end of 2025 some results from their review of the criteria, but we have not yet heard. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So has the Minister set her own deadline for, you know, if we don't hear back at that point we will work on bringing forward our own internal contingency funding for the next school year; is there a date in the Minister's mind by which by that point we need to come up with our own money if we haven't heard from the feds? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.