Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some of it is changing the processes too. One of the biggest issues is the inability of people that apply to appeal a job. I know that short-term positions are not appealable. Sometimes if they are an outside applicant, then they cannot appeal those jobs. I would like to know if they are going to improve that process too. Thank you.

The Minister is right; people are really frustrated about their chance of trying to get employment. As I detailed, a lot of them get screened out and don’t know why.

Can the Minister undertake a process to review the human resource hiring process to ensure Aboriginal candidates are continually engaged and involved and encouraged if they are not the successful candidate? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories has had an Affirmative Action Policy since 1989. The goal of the policy is that public service is representative of the people it serves. The population of the Northwest Territories is 51 percent Aboriginal and 39 percent of the workforce is Aboriginal. In 2011, the latest year available, indigenous Aboriginal employees made up only 32 percent of the public service. That is the same figure as the year before and pretty close to where it has been for the last 10 years.

The policy is not working, Mr. Speaker. Meanwhile...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that the Minister has mentioned 2014-15, a planning study and, of course, it was on the books for construction in 2018. In my Member’s statement I was speaking on behalf of the people of Trout Lake. That is too far away. I would like to have the Minister perhaps have the ability going to Trout Lake on June 24th with some positive answers to the community to advance this project. Is the Minister prepared to do that? Thank you.

Certainly, the Minister has taken my offer to come and visit the community of Trout Lake, I believe it was June 24th, and they’re looking forward to his visit.

The Minister, I don’t know where he gets his facts when he’s saying it’s 58 percent underutilized, but at 20 students the school is already full. But anyway, the Minister can see for himself when we attend the school there.

Since February, when I last raised this issue in the House, what has the Minister and his staff done to advance the Trout Lake School project?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to continue the thoughts of Mr. Yakeleya. He was speaking about broken promises by our government to our communities. This reflects upon the issue of Trout Lake and their school.

More and more families are returning to Trout Lake and the community is growing. It is a beautiful place. It is not surprising that people in the region are coming back after leaving for school and other pursuits. This is really good for the community and the people are happy about it, but the growth is putting more pressure on the school.

It is basically a one-room school that is...

Thank you very much. I’m glad he spoke about some of the processes, but is the Minister prepared to get it started? After this June meeting, what will be the process for getting the planning study into the books and into our budget? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I spoke about the Trout Lake School and the need to also advance that project.

I was doing my recent spring visit to Trout Lake, and the community, of course, raised it once again. The principal also showed me the facilities. As I said, the renovations I don’t think were properly completed. But there is still a need to upgrade that school and even build us a new school in Trout Lake, so I would like to know if the Education, Culture and Employment Minister has updated the forecast for the number of students in Trout Lake as people have returned to...

I know that every time we put out a request before the government, it’s going to be big expenditures, but in this case to replace and get that CKLB up and running was about $7,000. I’m not too sure about the CBC aspect of it, but those are the numbers we are talking about, if the Minister can use those figures as he talks with his colleagues and works with his department in order to come up with a plan for the community. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to follow up on my colleague Mr. Nadli’s initiative about establishing a community radio initiative, but I want to focus more on Nahanni Butte. I just completed my spring visit there and the community still remains without a radio, either CKLB or CBC.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs how he can assist this community. The radios have ceased working as a result of the flood last year and the anniversary of that flood is June 3rd. It’s been a full year and I’d like to know how the government will be helping the...