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Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Jake Ootes is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly November 2003, as MLA for Yellowknife Centre

Won his last election, in 1999, with 61% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Bill 31: An Act To Amend The Official Languages Act, No. 3 October 9th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 31, An Act to Amend the Official Languages Act, No. 3, be read for a third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 105-14(6): GNWT Response To "a Vision For The Arts In The Nwt" - NWT Arts Strategy Action Plan October 8th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled, "The GNWT Response to a Vision for the Arts in the Northwest Territories." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 418-14(6): Declining High School Graduation Rates October 8th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it will likely take a number of weeks before we could put some substantive information together that would clearly outline what is happening and why things are happening. We know it is happening; we have that information. But why that is happening may be subject to a number of factors, Mr. Speaker. It may be the enrollment has been declining in certain grades. Just looking at the number of students and community types here, for Grade 12, 1999 was 290 and in 2002 it's 220. We need to analyze what is happening there, Mr. Speaker. On the positive side, as I say, we have increased enrollments and increased graduation rates in the communities and by aboriginal students. Thank you.

Question 418-14(6): Declining High School Graduation Rates October 8th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this point I can't relate that to this, Mr. Speaker. I would have to do a lot more checking on information before I could address that particular question. Thank you.

Question 418-14(6): Declining High School Graduation Rates October 8th, 2003

No, Mr. Speaker, I don't have any results of that yet. Thank you.

Question 418-14(6): Declining High School Graduation Rates October 8th, 2003

Mr. Speaker, the statistics that I have indicate that the graduation rates for Yellowknife in 1999 were 170; in 2000 were 165; in 2001 were 155; and in 2002 were 149. We're analyzing the enrollments and student results for grades 10 to 12 to see what's happening on that, Mr. Speaker.

Question 416-14(6): Need For Emergency Shelters In Yellowknife October 8th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we always are prepared to look at our availability to do things. Naturally we have to live within the policies and the mandate that we've been given. So I have to ensure that whatever we do is within the policies and not outside of that. As I said, we have responsibility for the income support program, and those are the clients that we can certainly look at, Mr. Speaker. I will bring my deputy minister, or certainly an appropriate representative that has true familiarity with all the issues in this. We also have a permanent member on the Yellowknife Homeless Coalition, Mr. Speaker, as a resource person on an ongoing basis when they meet. Thank you.

Question 416-14(6): Need For Emergency Shelters In Yellowknife October 8th, 2003

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we'll certainly undertake to do that and we'll coordinate that together. Thank you.

Question 416-14(6): Need For Emergency Shelters In Yellowknife October 8th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it should be remembered that our particular responsibility of this program lies in the area of income support. When clients require accommodation for income support, then we do our best to refer them to the appropriate locations, like the Salvation Army. In the event they're full, then we try to make alternate arrangements. Other homeless people, Mr. Speaker, are the responsibility of the Housing Corporation, and there is a Minister responsible for homelessness. With respect to the request for the meeting, I would be pleased to meet with the organizations, providing we can coordinate together and include the Minister responsible for homelessness, because I think that's very important to ensure that he also is present. I can't answer a lot of these questions without that Minister being present, and that requires coordination, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Question 416-14(6): Need For Emergency Shelters In Yellowknife October 8th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, throughout my three years in this office I've always tried to do my best to conduct meetings as requested with various agencies, and I think I've met it most of the time, Mr. Speaker. When this request came through -- and I remember the request from the honourable Member now that he brings it to our attention -- my executive assistant did coordinate with his C.A., I believe, Sahara, and they tried to find dates to hold this meeting. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, they were not able to, and then the holiday time came upon us and it fell by the wayside after that, Mr. Speaker. I should mention here, I checked with the department and we did not get a request or a reminder from any of the agencies, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.