Debates of May 19, 2011 (day 11)

The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

I thank Members for allowing me to return to item 8. Just a few questions I have regarding the Licenced Practical Nursing Program. It’s currently scheduled to be offered in Inuvik this fall. I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment when the last time the Licenced Practical Nurse Program, the LPN course, was held anywhere in the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have the specific information in front of me, but I do know that this particular program is in the works in Inuvik. When I was there for the Beaufort-Delta Aboriginal Achievement Initiative meeting, I did tour the campus, as well. They have all the supplies already set up. They’re just looking for third-party funding, as well.

I think it’s great news that the LPN Program is going to be offered in Inuvik. I congratulate the department and Aurora College on doing that. I’d like to ask the Minister if there’s any thought that sometime down the road this course could be offered at Aurora College here in Yellowknife, given the success of the Northern Nursing Program here in Yellowknife.

I can share this with the College Board of Governors. I do meet with them and especially with the chair. I can relay the message on to them.

They do have their short and long-term plans, as well, on what kind of courses to be delivered in the three main campuses. They can highlight what’s going to be delivered at the Yellowknife Campus for the next five to 10 years.

I’d like to ask the Minister if Aurora College does any research into potential students for programs like the LPN Program and, if so, have they done any of that market research in Inuvik and Yellowknife, or Fort Smith for that matter, to gauge the interest of having that program run in those communities.

That information would be with the college. I need to gather that information from either the college president or the board chair. With the information that we have through the Inuvik area, it’s all preliminary at this point. As I stated, we are looking for third-party funding and a federal contribution as well. If all goes well, we’re hoping to have those students taking the course in due time.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to just end by asking the Minister, again, I think we’re trying to get as many northern people involved in the health care field here in the Northwest Territories and opportunities to advance themselves through training. The LPN Program is one of these areas I think we could expand upon. I’d like to ask the Minister if he would commit to getting back to me on whether or not Aurora College will offer the LPN Program in Yellowknife for residents here in Yellowknife who want to take that course.

I will be seeking that information from the college and will get back to the Members on the courses that are being delivered in Yellowknife. If this particular course is going to be delivered here, when that is going to be taking place. I need to gather that information and I will be sharing that.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are addressed to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. I spoke in my statement about the NWT SPCA. I’d like to know from the Minister whether or not MACA has ever considered funding veterinary services and programs within the NWT.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t really have the information, so until I can gather it, I’ll take the question as notice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document: Forging the Future – Anchored in Our Past, Building on Our Present: Summary of People’s Perspectives on a Vision for the Northwest Territories and Planting the Seeds to Achieve It.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents entitled Northwest Territories Energy Report, May 2011, and Growing Forward: Small Scale Foods Program, Community Garden Initiative 2010 Annual Report.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled NWT Community Justice Review: Together We’re Better “Looking Ahead.”

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents entitled Northwest Territories Power Corporation 2009-2010 Annual Report and Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation 2009-2010 Annual Report.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Report Respecting Benefits Paid to Ministers under the Ministerial Benefits Policies for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2011.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Pursuant to Section 5 of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, I wish to table the Summary of Members’ Absences for the Period of March 5, 2011, to May 10, 2011.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on Thursday, May 19, 2011, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, August 17, 2011;

AND FURTHER, that any time prior to August 17, 2011, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called.

---Carried

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 20, Vital Statistics Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill replaces the existing Vital Statistics Act that provides a comprehensive framework for the registration of birth, adoptions, stillbirth, marriages and deaths in the Northwest Territories.

Transitional matters are provided for, and the Children’s Law Act and the Marriage Act are consequentially amended. Thank you.

Bill 20 has had second reading.

---Carried

The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, Bill 21 provides members of the reserve force with an entitlement of unpaid leave from their employment if they are required to be absent for work for the purpose of service with the force. This bill also prohibits an employer from terminating an employee or changing the conditions of his or her employment because an employee is a member of the reserve force. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.