Kevin A. Menicoche
Statements in Debates
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to continue my debate with the honourable Minister of Transportation on Highway No. 7. That highway is a gateway to our North, Mr. Speaker, but I would like to speak about the barriers and bumps that it has. I spoke time and time again about getting it into the capital planning process. In fact, just recently, Mr. Speaker, residents of Fort Liard did hand in the petition that I will action later on in this session. It is a very important document. They are going to get lots of support from all the communities in my riding. What stage are we at in the...
I’m very pleased with the Minister’s answer that it will be considered. Every year I’ve been asking to put it in the capital plan, Mr. Speaker. I’d just like to ask the Minister again, will he recognize the needs of the students and the community of Trout Lake and put a new school for Trout Lake in the capital planning process or at least a plan to scope out a new school for Trout Lake, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
I rise once again to implore this government to hear the needs of the community of Trout Lake who wish to see a stand-alone school. Trout Lake is one of the many growing communities in the NWT. Younger families have been moving back and there are more children in the community. Also, technically the previous Charles Tetcho School was never replaced. Our government promised to replace it but it was never done.
The school is presently housed in the community recreation centre. Actually, government has some planned renovations to this...
Absolutely. I always believe that communication is key and as long as we’re talking, we can identify this priority for the community. Inuvik has a $100 million school, Tulita about a $60 million school, but I don’t think Trout Lake is asking for millions of dollars, Mr. Speaker. They’re looking at a small size, like the size of Jean Marie River. I’m sure it will be even under a million to create something like that for the community of Trout Lake and that’s what I’m asking the Minister to look at. Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated in my Member’s statement, once again I’m fighting with government to get a new school in Trout Lake. I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment when can we begin the planning process for inclusion into a capital plan for a school for Trout Lake. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister how can the community of Trout Lake be more helpful. Does he need petitions? Does he need letters from the chief and council even to come over and to meet with him directly as well there, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.
The stats have been stable for the last 10 years. We’ve had only, like, 30 percent indigenous Aboriginal employment for the last 10 years and the stats aren’t growing. Some of the barriers are systemic, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister again: in the 20/20 strategy and the new Aboriginal board, is there a mechanism for somebody to appeal a job that they felt they should have got but a non-Aboriginal got it, like in the case of Justice and the Corrections Centre?
There are many other areas too, Mr. Speaker. I get lots of inquiries where Aboriginal people from my constituency applied for...
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister of Human Resources some questions following my Member’s statement on Aboriginal employment and salaries in the Government of the Northwest Territories. The indigenous Aboriginal is 31 percent of our total GNWT workforce. I’d like to ask the Minister what is the current strategy for recruitment to increase those numbers in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Those that do, I believe, aren’t getting the chance, Mr. Speaker. The word that’s been used in the public is like nepotism, but it’s not really nepotism if it’s someone from your home province. Nepotism is about hiring family and close family members, but it’s more like the buddy system that’s going on. How do we prevent it and how can we track that, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.
I don’t know if the new advisory group had a chance to operate yet, but I think the reality of the situation in our North and some of the issues are that the upper management is non-Aboriginal and when Aboriginals apply for jobs they’re not getting them. I don’t know, those statistics do not show up, but it happens time and time again. I think it happened in Justice recently, where three Aboriginals were not hired and a non-Aboriginal was, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister how would the department track issues like that. Thank you.