Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Finance. About two weeks ago now, I made a statement in the House about whether or not the GNWT had a social media policy to deal with how we operate our social media sites and whether we have any parameters that we use for either our employees or contractors when they build these sites for us. Mr. Miltenberger graciously committed to review the matter with officials in his department and with Cabinet. My first question to the Minister is: Can he apprise me of the results of the meeting that he had with Cabinet and officials the day after my statement?
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member raised a good point and identified a need in terms of having proper structure in place. There has been a meeting of senior officials as it pertains to that particular policy. They have done the initial scoping out, they are establishing a work plan and they intend to come back in the fall with a fleshed out policy.
Thanks to the Minister. It’s good to hear government at work and moving quickly. That’s wonderful. I’d like to ask the Minister whether or not he can give me any idea of the gist of what’s going to be in the policy. Are there any, sort of, general directions that were given to these senior officials that they were sent away with to develop a policy?
The Member in the House raised some areas where there were gaps. It was an area when it was raised, and we had officials look at it where there isn’t a lot of clear policy direction as it pertains to Facebook and other social media, and how we do our business on there in an increasing fashion. They’re going to take a look. They’re going to do a review of other jurisdictions and they’re going to pull together, hopefully, the best practices in terms of next steps.
Thanks to the Minister. One of the concerns that I had was with the need for the government to both remain impartial and be seen to be impartial. Is that a focus of what this group of officials is working on?
The folks are taking close note of the discussion and debate in this House. The Member has raised some legitimate, pertinent concerns, including the one she just articulated, and yes, we’re going to list all those concerns and then see what’s the best way forward in terms of coming up with an adequate and functional policy.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister. My last question, then, has to do with whether or not any kind of a draft will come before standing committee to give Members on this side of the House some opportunity to have input into a policy.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I talked about the need for some discretionary latitude in the granting of leave to teachers who may be involved in volunteering in very worthwhile efforts on behalf of promoting healthy, engaged youth in our communities. If the government doesn’t think that these kind of volunteers make a difference in our communities, we need only point to a young man like Brendan Green, who made it all the way to the Olympics, and he did so as a result of the volunteer coaches in Hay River that started him off and got him going on his sport.
I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment how do we change a policy that would give the principal of a school the discretionary latitude to grant leave for a teacher to be involved in these activities. Is it a policy at this government level? Is it at the DEA level? Is there a regulation? Is there a human resources manual? How could we go about making amendments to something like that so that we can grant our school principals and our teachers more flexibility?
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I do agree with Mrs. Groenewegen that these teachers that do volunteer work are invaluable to the team and they make a difference to the students’ lives, even the athletes’ lives, so we must support them as best as we can. This is the first I’ve heard of the incident but, definitely, this is an area that we need to follow through with the DEA, and I need to work closely with my colleague, as well, in HR. We all need to work together on this on what’s best for the students and how we can have those individuals, the resource team available for these athletes. It’s based on some time off and so forth. There is also an agreement with the NWTTA and so forth, so there are different agreements that we have to work with, but I will commit to the Member that I will be working closely with HR and the DEA on this particular work.
The Minister has indicated he didn’t hear of this before, and perhaps I should have drawn this to his attention in a less public way, but I understand this has been a situation that has been ongoing for volunteers and coaches who are teachers for some time now, so I thought perhaps there would have been other incidents like this raised.
I want to reiterate that I’m not finding any fault. Teachers don’t like to complain, and this teacher is not finding any fault with the people who are his superiors. What he is saying, and what I’m saying, is that we need a more flexible policy. I’d like to ask the Minister how will he – I know he’s going to consult with the Minister of HR because it is the HR Manual that needs to be talked about here – engage school authorities at the superintendent level or at the DEA level to make sure that there is support for a change like this.
With my department, I’ve just got a note that they’ve been in touch with the superintendent to try and find the background of the situation itself, so we are trying to find a remedy towards this particular area. As you know, we want every athlete to be successful, so that’s an area that we need to tackle. This is a GNWT policy and NWT Collective Agreement policy as well. There are several areas that we need to deal with and develop guidelines towards that. Again, I need to work with HR and the DEA. They’re getting a clear message now. My department has already been in touch with the DEA, the superintendent, and working through the logistics of how we can support these teachers towards their time off.
I’d like to ask the Minister if he has previous experience with bringing about such a change or a policy of this nature. I’m just wondering what kind of a time frame we might be looking at. What’s involved in terms of the approvals and getting that new rule or regulation or policy out to the folks that are in a position to approve leave? What kind of a time frame might we be looking at to accomplish all of that?
I don’t recall encountering this kind of incident in the past. There might have been a couple before. The time frame, I need to seriously look at this. As I’ve stated, this is the first event, but I will be working with the Department of Human Resources, and also the NWTTA and within GNWT policy itself, and working with the DEA. We need to involve them, the superintendent. We’ll try and expedite this process as best as we can. Again, there are parties involved, so we need to engage with the parties. If the changes are going to be made, they need to be involved as well.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d just, finally, like to ask the Minister, if he does get any push back from any of the people that need to be consulted with or there are any people that don’t necessarily agree with where we are going with this and he requires any other political support from the Members of this House, if he does get push back towards this idea, will he agree to inform us so that we can be fully aware of that?
Most definitely. We need to work with all Members on this particular work, because it does impact across the Northwest Territories, the 33 communities, the DEAs, the NWTTA. If there is a push back, then I need to work with the Members.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today we had a really good briefing from Skills Canada NWT and it got me thinking about youth programs and all the programs that they do with such a small office. But it got me thinking to a bigger level, and today I have questions for the Minister of Youth in regard to possibly the creation or the development of a youth symposium.
First of all, I just want to ask the Minister of Youth, has there ever been a youth symposium for youth providers of the Northwest Territories, in his knowledge as the Minister of Youth. Has there ever been a youth symposium where providers for youth programs come together and discuss some of the challenges and success stories? That’s my first question.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. The Minister responsible for Youth, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are many opportunities for those that provide service to youth to come together on an informal basis and have discussions on how to improve the programs for youth. In the previous Assembly, I think the Premier at the time had a Premier’s forum with the youth and had a lot of providers there, a lot of youth workers, a lot of youth that were there. It was well attended, and the suggestions that came out of this forum for the age of the kids that took part in this forum were unbelievable. They did an excellent job. I mean, there are always opportunities for youth providers to gather. As far as an actual symposium goes, it’s something that we’d have to have a look at.
We have some really great youth programs out there, Youth Ambassador Program, Northern Youth Abroad Program. Skills Canada is doing a great job. We do all these programs to empower our youth. Is there something that we can do to empower our volunteers and empower our youth, our workforce who provide these programs to the youth? I guess my question is: Would the Minister be willing to look at creating, coordinating and planning for a youth symposium for our volunteers for our workforce who provide these programs for youth so that they can share their stories, so that they can work the challenges? It would also be a good opportunity to report and evaluate on the programs that MACA and the Minister of Youth provide such as the Youth Corps and the Youth Contributions Program. Would the Minister be willing to look, coordinate and plan a youth symposium for youth, workers and volunteers?
I will commit to the Member that I will start having discussions with the officials over at MACA about hosting such a symposium and keep Members apprised as to going forward, and if there’s a possibility of having it, we’ll make sure we have an opportunity to invite all Members of the Assembly.
I think it’s a great idea and it’s an opportunity to evaluate programs, share what the programs are, an opportunity for organizations to give details on the programs that they provide so other organizations can jump on board, and also develop some really great partnerships. It would be an opportunity for the youth ambassadors to probably coordinate such a symposium. A lot of positives here. Can the Minister provide, possibly, a timeline, whether this is something that we can see in the ’13-14 fiscal year or ’14-15 fiscal year?
Mr. Speaker, there are many opportunities for those that provide service to youth to network. We have a number of events that go on across the Northwest Territories at any given time where they could network and share some of their success stories and work with each other. However, I have committed to the Member that I will work with the officials and see about putting on a symposium.
As far as the timeline goes, once I have those discussions, I think I’ll be in a better position to give a definite date as to when we plan on having it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to follow up on my Member’s statement earlier today with questions for the Minister of ITI. I do note, in the gallery today, Ms. Lone Sorensen. She has played a real leadership role in delivering some of these NGO agricultural programs.
Could the Minister give us an update on the status of completing and launching a new Growing Forward 2 Agreement and explain how the Territorial Farmers’ Association and other stakeholders have been involved in finalizing the second draft as he has committed? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Growing Forward 2 would be an investment of $1.2 million on an annual basis and give us $6 million to put towards agricultural initiatives in the territory over the next five years. The current program expires at the end of this month. We are moving forward in looking at signing the new deal with Ottawa on a way forward for the additional funding.
Some of the areas of investment would include small scale foods, mentorship, traditional harvesting, as well as building industry capacity here in the Northwest Territories. It is very exciting for us. This represents about a half a million dollars more on an annual basis to the agricultural industry here in the Northwest Territories.
We have been consulting with the Territorial Farmers’ Association, and to get specifics on when these consultations took place and who they were with, I would certainly make that commitment to get that information back to the Member. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, thanks to the Minister. I know there are a number of groups and significant movers and shakers that have been involved in programs in the past. I am sure they are being consulted, so I’ll appreciate that information.
The Minister has written to tell me that the ITI regional offices in the North and South Slave and Deh Cho will take on responsibility for delivering the Small Foods Program, and the ITI agricultural consultant will do full implementation in the Beau-Del and support the Sahtu office.
As the new season soon gets underway, could the Minister commit to ensuring community partnership components figure largely in this year’s program delivery – and I urge the Minister to refer to my statement earlier today – and that program reporting will include specifics on community partnerships, mentoring and real capacity building? Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, a big component of this is that industry capacity. We have been talking to the Territorial Farmers’ Association on a training component located in Hay River, where folks from the communities would go to Hay River, receive the training and be able to take the knowledge that they have learned in Hay River back to their home communities and train others when they get back home. That, I believe, is going to be a big component of the new funding. We are working out the details on the funding and how it flows and what it ends up going to.
Rest assured, when we do come up with a plan, we will be coming to committee and seeking the indulgence of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure and the advice of Members from across the way. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, thanks to the Minister. I look forward to that again. What has been happening is all of those components have been here for the work done by non-government organizations. It has not been done by the workers in the government. That’s where we need the tune-up. I would like to see the Minister working with his staff to ensure that those goals are met.
Community markets are also developing in some communities. I believe there is already one in Hay River, and the Yellowknife Commons Cooperative is beginning one in Yellowknife this summer. Is the Minister aware of these value-added activities and is the department also supporting these efforts? Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, yes I am aware of the market in Hay River and the efforts here in Yellowknife. Certainly, the Member is correct, we have to be putting the money in the hands of people who can do the most with it. In a lot of cases in agriculture, it is not much different, and that is the hands of the NGOs, people that are in the business. With the Growing Forward 2 money, I would anticipate that that is going to be the way forward, is trying to get money where it is going to make the most difference. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Mr. Speaker, I’ve heard that the Take A Kid Trapping program is drawing dollars from the Growing Forward Fund. That obviously would be inappropriate use of those dollars. Can the Minister confirm whether that is the situation? What is the justification for that if it is? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I wasn’t aware of that. It is something that I certainly would look into. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up from my Member’s statement, I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation a question. The cost estimate of the Inuvik-Tuk highway is about $300 million. How much of that is expected to stay in the Northwest Territories economy through businesses and job opportunities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Decisions haven’t been made on procurement but certainly my belief – and I’ve said it in the House before and I will say it again today – is that the vast majority of that close to $300 million should stay in the Northwest Territories, should put equipment that’s here in the Northwest Territories to work and people to work here in the Northwest Territories. We don’t want to see that money leave the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, would the Minister describe the economic benefits of the Inuvik-Tuk highway once it is built? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the economic benefits will be great for all of the communities in the Beaufort-Delta for visiting family and connecting the communities of Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk. It will lower the cost of living in Tuktoyaktuk. We won’t have to build the ice road to Tuktoyaktuk in the winter months any longer. Long term, this road will have tremendous impact on the exploration and development of oil and gas in the region and lead to many more jobs and opportunities for residents in the Beaufort-Delta.
Also, I should mention tourism. Currently, in the summer months, when tourists drive the Dempster Highway into Inuvik, they have to take a plane into Tuktoyaktuk if they want to dip their toe in the Arctic Ocean. That will be a thing of the past. Tourists will be able to drive all the way to the Arctic Coast and dip their toe in the Arctic Ocean and also visit a pingo or two while they are in Tuktoyaktuk. Thank you.
