Statements in Debates
Thank you, Madam Chair. I was going to save any additional comments on this early childhood funding that is being proposed for a cut, but seeing that there has been some tremendous passion and momentum being built here on this issue, I wanted to perhaps put an exclamation mark on the point we are raising here and enforcing. I think many Members have raised the fact that it doesn’t make sense to be evaluating a project as the project is being finished. I know, having been here long enough, if we pass this budget and go away, all the requests will be made to the Minister and the department to...
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under this item on page 9-20, NWT Arts Council, I want to just raise a concern that has been brought to many Members here from the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre for some assistance with their core funding. I just wanted to lay out the situation here where currently the northern arts centre, I think a lot of Members are aware that this facility was set up by community volunteers. They raised a lot of money to set this up and it is a very important institution in our city. I think arts and cultural activities and performances are a very integral part of any...
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could the Minister indicate whether or not he has had an audience with the people involved with this project, to see what it is they're doing and what it is that they're looking for? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could I ask the Minister whether this reduction in his budget would decrease the funding that has in the past gone to the NWT Literacy Council, who has benefited from getting money from the GNWT as well as some of the federal programs to introduce a lot of literacy initiatives, and ones that have made some headway. I don’t know if they will have a direct impact there, but I would like to have confirmation on that from the Minister.
Another comment that I want to add, which I think is important, is that what he has been hearing about this program is that in the last...
I would ask for a copy of whatever communication he puts out, please. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wanted to ask the Minister about the career and technical centre project in Yellowknife. I think a lot of Members here have spoken about the need for resources for training of our young people so they could take advantage of economic opportunities that are happening around us. I know that the government has transferred the land on which the centre is built, but I don't believe there has been any resources to either help with the project or in terms of any commitment to any programs that could be held there that would go toward paying for the project. Also, we are...
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I see that I have about nine seconds. I’m prepared to get back on the line-up if there are other Members who want to raise points.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a short question under the culture, heritage and languages aspect of this page. Mr. Chairman, I believe Minister Dent is the only Member unique in this Assembly who has the functional ability to speak French. I think it's a very good thing and I would encourage him to exercise that capacity as often as possible. I think it is a good thing to have as many of the official languages being spoken in this Assembly as possible.
Mr. Chairman, having said that, I wanted to draw to the attention of the Minister that within the guidelines, six of the official languages...
Thank you. In the interest of time, I am prepared to just accept a commitment from the Minister to provide this info in as much detail as possible, but we are not looking for every dollar, we are looking for some categories. Secondly, I am interested in knowing, for the record, general ideas about what is entailed in the fees and payments and contract services, meaning what sort of things does that money go to? Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to offer some general comments on the department and its budget. The first issue I want to speak to is in regard to the Aurora College. I want to state that I believe that it is very important for our society and in jurisdictions like the Territories to have an advanced education institution. I do believe that Aurora College has come a long way, but it does have a lot more potential to fulfill. Especially in light of the training needs and employment needs that we are faced with and will probably continue to be faced with with all the economic opportunities that...