Katrina Nokleby

The Minister somewhat touched on my next question, which is to ask about the effects of COVID on the enrolment in the trades programs, and if the Minister could provide any of the costs associated with either adapting the programs to the distance learning or for having to take more in-person COVID containment methods. I guess what I'm asking, and you may have already answered this, is: Do we have empty classrooms in these campuses?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we return to the Assembly for this first sitting of a brand new year, I am inspired to look forward to a brighter future for the Northwest Territories after such a challenging year. One of the bright pieces, the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, is the promise of better education for all. When I look at the issues surrounding our territory, I see that the solution is already in front of us: our people.

If we can create a workforce born in the North, raised in the North, and educated in the North, nothing will stop us from creating solutions to our problems...

I am really glad to hear that. As we all know, doing trades remotely would probably be quite difficult for students, so I'm glad to hear that we're going to be returning back. I look forward to further asking the Minister at a later date what some of those costs are, around the COVID response. My next question I just want to move on to is the new Blue Seal certification program that the department is rolling out. I have some understanding of that, but I would like to know if the Minister could speak a bit more to how that differs from the Red Seal program and maybe provide a bit of a timeline...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. From today until November 11th, Canadians will mark Veterans' Week and commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Over one million Canadians from across our country and all walks of life enlisted and served, with 45,000 souls giving their lives in sacrifice for the greater good.

Like many proud Canadians, several of my relatives have served our nation in a variety of capacities and conflicts, including in both world wars as well as the Korean War. My uncle, William Grant, my mom's brother, served as an airplane mechanic with the Royal Canadian...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm glad to hear the Minister acknowledge the disconnect. I'm always hesitant when I hear about investigations or analysis done by a department on its own department. Maybe more of a comment, but it would be nice to having the Minister commit to having independent third parties look at the GNWT's policies. I don't believe that they are being followed and would like to see these change. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

It's my understanding that the GNWT considers "Indigenous non-Aboriginal" as a distinct category in its HR policies. Can the Minister please explain to us what this means and how this designation is incorporated into GNWT statistics around meeting affirmative action goals?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am going to deviate a little bit from the theme today. Instead, I would like to recognize a constituent of the District of Great Slave, 10-year-old Jack Penney.

This year, Jack submitted his film "Eat Your Carrots" to the NWT-based Dead North Film Festival. "Eat Your Carrots" is a fantasy horror short that was written and directed by Jack when he was only nine years old. Jack is currently in grade five at Ecole J.H. Sissons School and, in his spare time, is an avid reader and snowboarder. He's also the best big brother to his sister, Lucy Dandelion.

Jack faced many...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I don't have anything new to add really to what my colleagues here have been already saying. I care a lot about public safety. It's something I've always incorporated into my work, and I will still continue to do so. At a young age, I even took an oath to protect it. I hear and see the need in this territory, and do I think that this additional money that's going to be spent is going to improve the safety or protect us better from COVID? No, I don't. I am also often hit up for money to help people fill their fuel tanks or buy groceries for their children. I'm sure it...

I've had numerous friends and constituents discuss with me their stories of qualified, educated, Indigenous Aboriginal candidates, or P1s, who are unable to advance within their departments, including in the Minister's own. Can the Minister please commit to performing a review of her own department's hiring and looking for the circles of friends in senior management that are often a barrier to the advancement of Indigenous candidates or for advancing complaints under her HR policies?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Minister and I both received an email recently in which the sender indicated that, in 2010, the pay gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous GNWT employees was reported as $20,000 annually. Can the Minister tell me if the public service annual report still contains information regarding the distribution of salaries between P1s, P2s, and P3s, and if not, why not? Thank you.