Charles Dent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will certainly discuss with Mr. McLeod what the options might be for us to examine our legislation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NWT Dog Act says that no person shall punish or abuse a dog in a manner or to an extent that is cruel or unnecessary. So we have legislation in place that is intended to ensure that dogs are treated humanely. It is an issue that under this law is administered by Municipal and Community Affairs, because of their relationship with municipalities. The municipalities can pass bylaws respecting the care and control of dogs, as well. So in terms of what Cabinet has done to change our approach, the Cabinet hasn’t, at this point, done anything. I think we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this week is Apprenticeship Week and on Thursday, apprentices and occupational candidates from all regions of the Northwest Territories will be given awards of excellence. These awards are given to the individuals with the highest marks in each specific working area.

Mr. Speaker, developing trades people and certifying occupations is essential to ensuring that future developments in the Northwest Territories benefit northerners first. For our people to get the most out of the diamond mines, oil and gas development, and other projects, they need to have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said already on the one report, I don’t believe that there is any way to sever the personal information from the one report and bring anything forward from it. On the courts, the one the Member has referred to, I’m not aware of that report, so I will have to look into it and find out whether or not anything from that report can be made public. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t believe that can be made available. I don’t think that there is any way that that report, the way it was written, that the information could be severed to protect the individuals involved. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Coalition Against Family Violence was a large number of groups that included federal agencies as well as territorial and non-government agencies. The response that I brought forward last week was our response to their report. So the response did not have everybody from the coalition at the table. It was developed as a government response, so it wasn’t exactly the same group that was involved in developing that response. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The response to the report, which we just released last week, was largely done within government. It was done with representatives from Justice, Education, Culture and Employment and Health and Social Services with the special advisors to the Minister responsible for the Status of Women. Outside agencies were brought in. For instance, the executive director of the NWT Status of Women was offered on many occasions an opportunity to be briefed and comment on the public education plan, but, unfortunately, that did not get responded to, so that briefing never took place...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the report is being done by corporate human resources and I believe that the Minister responsible, Mr. Floyd Roland, has briefed committee and did tell them that they would receive a copy of the information the Member just requested. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I am aware of that fact. I know some teachers who have not been able to find employment. The Premier’s guarantee and the one that this government is standing by is one that a position will be offered; not necessarily in the community to which the person is interested in applying though. So we are convinced that the positions are available across the Northwest Territories, but not every graduate is prepared to go to every community. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t say the exact number of teacher graduates since 2001 off the top of my head, I’m afraid, but I do believe we’ve had a very good success rate of finding positions for people who are interested in teaching the Northwest Territories once they’ve graduated from the program. Thank you.