Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Steven Nitah is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly November 2003, as MLA for Tu Nedhe

Lost his last election, in 2003, with 18% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Question 394-14(6): Negotiating Funding With Local School Authorities October 6th, 2003

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister's response was that we need to identify the small communities. I think we know which communities are small in the Northwest Territories already, so you don't have to go through that process. I think it's important to look at one school in-depth and figure out what's going on there to determine what's good for the rest of the territory. Fort Resolution's Deninu School has volunteered for that. They're doing good work. We just renovated the school. We have a first class school. We have first class teachers. We have first class administrators and a community that wants to participate and partner up with the department. So I'm asking again, Mr. Speaker, if the Minister and his department would look at a pilot project in Fort Resolution to determine what's best for the entire territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 394-14(6): Negotiating Funding With Local School Authorities October 6th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that answer. Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories we argue all the time that per capita funding doesn't work for people in the Northwest Territories because of the size of our territory. There's no difference in our communities, as well, Mr. Speaker. If we need to determine a correct formula, maybe we need to start with a pilot project with one school and start that way. I'd like to suggest to the Minister that Deninu School, who's volunteered to do a pilot project, if you would consider Deninu School as the pilot project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 394-14(6): Negotiating Funding With Local School Authorities October 6th, 2003

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, in my opening remarks I talked about the need to negotiate formula financing with local education authorities to improve the education system in their communities. Every year, I understand, there's a formula that is not negotiated. I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider entering into negotiations with local education authorities to determine the true cost of running the schools in the smaller communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery October 6th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize Fred and Francis, as well. Both gentlemen I know. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Funding Allocations For Schools October 6th, 2003

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on Friday of last week I went to Deninu School to celebrate the graduation of Ms. Amy Mersch. Amy Mersch was the only graduate for the Class of 2003. I met with the local education authority afterwards, along with the deputy minister of Education, Culture and Employment, where we discussed formula financing that supports grade extension. The local authority and I feel strongly that we have to revisit the formula financing agreements with the local education authority to realize more graduates coming out of our schools. Every year, the formula financing agreement is visited with each school, but if it's not negotiated then the true cost of running a school will never be identified and more graduates coming out of the schools will never be realized.

I'll be asking the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment if the department is willing to enter into negotiations with local education authorities of all schools in the Northwest Territories to determine what it really costs to run the schools instead of the local education authority continually fighting for dollars to run the programs and services. Especially in those schools that should be accepting grade extensions. Since Fort Resolution accepted the grade extensions in the schools, we've been seeing more graduates coming out of that school, but the community and the local education authority leaders feel that without more resources and targeted programs and services that these programs could be a lot more successful and we'll see a lot more educated people coming out of the Northwest Territories. I totally agree with that, Mr. Speaker.

I'll be having questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment at the appropriate time. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Question 383-14(6): Infrastructure Funding For Highway No. 6 October 5th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There's no question, just to agree with the Minister that, yes, it does need an improvement compared to the last job that was done. Thank you.

Question 383-14(6): Infrastructure Funding For Highway No. 6 October 5th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I agree the next government has a lot of work ahead of them, but I'd like to encourage the Minister to work with the community of Fort Resolution and the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to have a more inclusive program to allow more people than just the crew that started the work on Highway No. 6 so that there's a training component involved to prepare people for the diamond and the oil and gas rush. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 383-14(6): Infrastructure Funding For Highway No. 6 October 5th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Minister's negotiating with Mr. Rock's office I'd like him to keep in mind Highway No. 6 and the need for improved road infrastructure including a chipseal that's thicker than half an inch, Mr. Speaker. So I'd like to ask the Minister if he would consider Highway No. 6 for an accelerated improvement pace. Thank you.

Question 383-14(6): Infrastructure Funding For Highway No. 6 October 5th, 2003

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question's for the Minister of Transportation. As we see in today's headlines, $85 million for Northwest Territories roads and highways. I'd like to ask the Minister, since we got more money for Highway No. 3 and two other highways in the Northwest Territories, will we see now an accelerated pace on other construction projects on Northwest Territories highways, specifically Highway No. 6? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery October 5th, 2003

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a former constituent who everybody in the Northwest Territories knows, Snookie Catholique of CBC. Thank you.

---Applause