I appreciate that the Minister is going to undertake a review of sorts to some degree. The question really was as it related specifically to the NWT Arts Council. Their budget has been fixed for 10 years. At some point, you have to recognize that there do not need to be more research and strategies built around this sort of thing. After 10 years, you need an increase. There were over 1,700 applicants this year for that pot of money. People are being turned away. I just want to know: will the Minister commit to an increase to the NWT Arts Council?
I also want to point out that the funding that we have given to the NWT Arts Council has been protected from any reductions moving forward, as well, and that we continue to support the arts sector and, as I mentioned in my previous answer, that we are going to be looking collectively at our contributions with all GNWT departments to see how much we are actually contributing and supporting the NWT arts community. Then we will have those discussions afterwards.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to try just a little bit of a different avenue here. We know that the North has produced award-winning artists of all kinds: visual artists, theatre artists, musicians, and filmmakers. We also know that travel in and around the North and to get in and out of the North is very expensive. Will the Minister commit to seeking funding support for artists touring so that northern artists can reach a wider audience across Canada and elsewhere in the world? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Obviously, we do support that as a government. We support our artists that go to national events and festivals throughout the country. We will continue to do that. We also do it in the sports sector. If you look at the upcoming Olympics, we have three athletes who are going to be going to the Olympics who have gone through the system. We also have Juno Award winners, nominees whom we have supported coming from the communities. If you look at other programs we do as a government and as a territory, such as traditional game summits that promote sport, culture, and our artists as well as the upcoming Arctic Winter Games, we are supporting artists, we are supporting athletes, we are supporting both. As a government and as a Member of this Legislative Assembly, we do support, I support, the sports, recreations, culture, heritage as well as our artists, always have and will continue to do so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Similar to my honourable friend from Yellowknife North, I want to talk about arts as a generator of jobs. This also involves the Minister of Labour. This is an important issue. The Conference Board of Canada estimates the annual contribution of Canada's arts and culture industry is 7.4 per cent. As a gross total, that is more than Canada's mining, forestry, fishery sectors plus the Canadian Forces combined. We talk about transitioning, diversifying our economy. We have the artists who can already do this work. We have funds that are oversubscribed. Will the Minister commit to looking at arts through an employment lens and develop a strategy or modify his employment strategies to include the creative industries? Thank you.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it is more than just my department that will need to take a look at this in terms of the economic work and jobs that this arts sector creates. It is going to have to be a whole government approach when we take a look at this. We will be looking at that, as I mentioned in my previous questions, and then come back to the House to give up these numbers.
I am glad to hear there is a whole government approach. It sounds like the Minister is committing to taking this on. We have brought this issue before. Today is not the first time it is brought up. What work has he been doing to fulfill these new arts commitments that he is talking about today? I don't see anything in today's budget around the arts.
As I mentioned earlier in the question period here, I am confident that we are providing sufficient, fair, and equitable support for both the arts and the arts sector as well as the sports sector. We are going to have to look throughout the government to see what our contributions and supports for the arts community is. We will come back to this House and to Members and share that with them before we get into any further discussions.
When is the Minister going to come back to the House with all this work, tomorrow, the next day, the day after that? Can the Minister give us a timeline?
As I mentioned, I am going to have to have this discussion with my colleagues. We also have an advisory board with the NWT Arts Council. There are going to be some discussions that need to happen before we come back. I do not have a timeline. In due course, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My colleague the honourable Member from Yellowknife North brought up some funding dollars. Every Member on this side of the House has brought up more funding for the arts. I am going to ask the Minister again, this time from me, if he is going to hear the majority of the House and provide more funding dollars for the arts within the life of this Assembly? Thank you.
As I mentioned, we are going to have to look at what our contributions are as a government with all our departments and work that we have with our partners and come back and see what our contributions and our supports for the NWT arts community are. I do feel that we are sufficiently supporting our arts community throughout the Northwest Territories. Once we have those numbers, we will share them with Members of this House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier, I spoke about the constituency meeting I held at Diamond Jenness Secondary School in Hay River. I had a great discussion. I had told the students there that I would bring their questions forward and get some answers for them. I have some questions for one of the other youngsters here in the Ledge, our Minister of Education. I would like to ask the Minister: students at Diamond Jenness are concerned about the lack of courses available to them. They brought up a lack of dash-4 classes, basic courses like core French, and courses that better prepare them for real life. I would like to ask the Minister of Education why the students at DJSS have less access to courses than other places such as down south and even Yellowknife? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment does not decide what courses are being offered each semester within their respective schools. That is the responsibility of the school administration in consultation with the superintendents of education. DJSS could offer dash-4 courses, dash-1 courses, but it is the responsibility of the school administration and the superintendent. I think that needs to be brought up to the superintendent as well as brought forth to the administration of the school.
The buck has to stop somewhere. As far as I am concerned, it stops here, in the Legislative Assembly, with the Members of the Legislative Assembly and the Ministers of the respective departments. That's why I want to ask the Minister of Education: other than talking to the Education Council, what can be done to expand the course selection at Hay River and other schools across the territory?
As I mentioned, each school obviously decides what courses they want to offer. Each school is different from the next. Courses that are being offered in the Sahtu might be different from what's being offered in South Slave compared to some of our coastal communities. That's why one of our programs, the Northern Distance Learning Program is so important and such a great investment that we're able to offer some of these dash-1 courses to our rural and remote communities, and that's an initiative that this government is proud of, and will continue to support, but it really is a school administration decision, and working with the superintendent to decide what courses that they want to offer.
As a government, we've committed to making sure that students in our rural or remote communities such as Ulukhaktok, Fort Liard, Fort Resolution, can offer dash-1 courses because it's been an initiative that we've supported and taken on, but it really is up to the school administration and the superintendent. I encourage the Member to have those discussions with the school to bring those concerns forward, and we will support it, obviously, moving forward as well.
I see that there's one innovative solution that the government is undertaking to expand course selection, so that's what I'm looking for, is more innovative solutions like that. Maybe facilitate working together, facilitate the way that the different school boards can work together to pool their resources so they have a critical mass that they can offer more of these course. I'm looking for more solutions.
My next question is that students are concerned about the lack of support for students with special needs. I believe the Hay River Metis Government Council puts in people in the schools, and I know that other students help students with special needs. Why do we have to rely on these methods? What is being done to remedy the lack of special needs support in the schools?
It's great to see that DJSS has great working relationships with the Hay River Metis and the Government Council. We also see that up in my region, where the IRC has taken one of the leading roles to help their students succeed, as well. As a government, we do provide inclusive schooling funding to all, well above the legislated amounts that we have, and work with our education authorities, our superintendents, board chairs, to ensure that services are being provided to assist those with special needs in the communities.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It sounds like there are a lot of people involved in this. We have Aboriginal groups. We have Education Councils. We have District Education Authorities. We have ECE. It seems like there must be a simpler way, but I guess that's the way it is right now. Most students in Hay River can't take the bus to school because they live too close. Basically, if you live anywhere between the bridge and the "Welcome to Hay River" sign, you can't take the bus, so there are only a handful of students in DJ who actually take the bus, and now, they hear that bus service may end completely. What is the department doing to prevent this so we can make sure that kids actually get to school so they can learn? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Currently, work has begun to determine the current status, the gaps in services, and how to best address these gaps when it comes to busing. A steering committee has been formed which includes representation from the NWT Superintendents Association, the Department of ECE, and the Financial Management Board to make recommendations on opportunities for potential improvements in providing student transportation for services from junior kindergarten to grade 12. We're going to work on gathering that data, and look at the recommendations, and once the analysis of the status is complete, we will share those recommendations with standing committee and get feedback, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I know the Minister of Finance has had a busy day, but I'm going to have to put him to work again. Carillion Canada has now gone into creditor protection. It's the main Stanton Renewal equity investor for construction of the new hospital, the contractor to service and maintain the new hospital following completion, and it is involved in the remediation of the existing hospital for other uses.
In reviewing the project agreement, there are many triggers if something starts to go off the rails. Can the Minister tell us whether the Boreal Health Partnership or any of its partners has provided any event of default notices, notices of changes to the senior financing arrangements, or notices of super evening events pursuant to the project agreement? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No notice has been given to the GNWT. Technically, no notices to the GNWT are required because BHP are not in default under the project agreement. BHP are in default with their agreement with the lenders, so it did send notification to the lenders, and we were copied into it, and they have, I believe, until late February to outline a plan as to how they're going to fix the default. Any proposed plan would have to be reviewed and approved by the GNWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'd like to thank the Minister for his response. It's helpful to get that information. Carillion Canada's website contains a news release dated February 5th that states: "Fairfax Financial Holdings has entered into an agreement with Carillion to acquire 'select health care facilities.'" I've asked the Minister whether the Stanton Renewal project is amongst the select health care facilities that might be sold to Fairfax, but haven't got an answer yet. Can the Minister tell us whether the Stanton Renewal and existing hospital remediation projects are part of the agreement by Fairfax to acquire some Carillion assets?
Mr. Speaker, my understanding is, yes, it is part of that, and we'll continue to deal with that, and we'll continue to inform Members as to the update on how the sale is going.
I'd like to again thank the Minister for that information. That's helpful. I understand Fairfax is a big company, so this is good news, I think. Earlier today, I talked about the need to improve communications around what's happening with the Stanton Renewal Project. Certainly I think this side of the House would like to get more information. How does the Minister intend to keep the Regular MLAs and the public informed of what is going on with Carillion Canada and the Stanton Renewal Project, and would he agree it's time for a technical briefing for Regular MLAs?
Mr. Speaker, as information becomes available, any new information becomes available, we will share it. We are just in the process of updating our latest briefing note on the events that took place in the last couple of days, and I'm planning on providing that to Members tomorrow. As well, the website, Health and Social Services updates the information on the website. I've had a conversation with the Minister of Health, and they have committed to looking at updating the information on the website as well.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. Thanks to the Minister for those commitments to improve communications. It will be very helpful. The Ontario Auditor General found major problems with P3s in that jurisdiction that cost those taxpayers billions of dollars. What lessons has our government learned from P3s, and how will it apply them to the Tlicho all-season road, another proposed P3 project? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, the Member is correct in his comments before about the size of Fairfax and what they bring to the table. They are a very large company and have a lot of assets, so they bring a lot of expertise to the table. I think in our update briefing note, it will point out some of the information that the Members are seeking as to the senior management team, and I think there's a plan for that as well.
One of the lessons learned under these P3 projects is that it clearly demonstrates that, on a P3 project, there is a risk transfer. In a project like this, the risk transfer is on the proponents of the project. That frees the government from any risks that might be associated with them. It's the partnerships wanting to resolve. The GNWT were obviously active as an interested party and any financial or operational risk associated with the liquidation of the project proponents. Again, we will keep Members updated and I think this is a lesson learned, that there is some value in P3 partnerships as far as the risk transfer goes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement, I mentioned the North Slave Correctional Complex Inmates and the rehabilitation of the inmates and the services and programs provided to the inmates. My first question to the Minister of Justice is: can the Minister tell what steps have been taken to address the concerns raised by inmates in their letter-writing campaign of last October? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Justice.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. There were a number of concerns raised in the letters which we received in October. They covered quite a range of topics, including programming available, access to outdoor recreation areas, use of space within the facility, access to a law library, cost of phone calls, and staffing issues.
I want to assure this House that these concerns have been taken seriously. Within each of our correctional facilities, there is a process in place for addressing inmate concerns when the management of the facility meets with the inmate advisory committee on a monthly basis, hopefully to resolve the issues that have been brought forward. Since October, these monthly meetings have been continued and I understand that the last meeting of the inmate advisory committee was held on January 24th this year. Thank you.
Thanks to the Minister for that response. I noticed that there was a reference made to the programming. Can the Minister provide some examples of the types of programming that is available to the inmates of the North Slave Correctional Centre?
Within all of our facilities, we have a number of programming opportunities available to inmates. That's true both here and in the facilities outside Yellowknife. They are constantly looking at and evaluating programs and rolling out new ones. They have recently enhanced the programs to deal with those inmates that have short sentences. They are set up on a modular basis so they can be continued outside of the facility.
To give you some idea of some of the programs that we are offering, they are the following: high school exam preparation, trades exam preparation, assistance with pursuing and registration into post-secondary courses by outside institutions, offering embedded essential skills training, Northern Leadership Program, and Starting Role In Business. There are quite a number of programs that are being offered. These programs are being constantly upgraded and changed as needs change.
One of the concerns raised to me a number of times by constituents who are unfortunately in the institution: can the Minister update the House on when inmates will be once again able to access the outdoor recreational facility? I understand there was quite a large investment made in that piece of property.
Yes, the member is correct that access to the outdoor recreation has been restricted since the incident of our inmate escape in August of 2016. In the interim, the traditional liaison counsellor has been continuing programming in the indoor culture room and areas within the facility designated for this purpose.
As I previously mentioned in this House, there were some complications in the procurement process that required the department to look at alternatives. The problem was that the bids came in at a figure far in excess of what we were expecting, so I can't speak publicly about the security enhancements, but I am hopeful that soon that work will be completed. I'm hoping that will be resolved by this spring so that area of the facility can be used again by the inmates.
