Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, Mr. Speaker. The only requirement that an education authority has, as stipulated in the Education Act, is that it sets out the number of instructional minutes that the students must receive. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.
Supplementary To Question 3-15(4): Spring Break In The Sahtu
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Then can the Minister confirm for me that the education authorities can decide on their own when spring breaks will occur in the year?
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 3-15(4): Spring Break In The Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is absolutely correct. Right now, spring breaks occur at different times of the year for different school district education councils. A lot of councils will take into account what cultural and on-the-land activities they could participate in and will set their spring breaks to reflect those. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.
Supplementary To Question 3-15(4): Spring Break In The Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So if the citizens of the Sahtu region wish to change the dates of the spring break to take advantage of the traditional on-the-land spring hunt activities, they would then have to contact or lobby the Sahtu educational board. Is that correct? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 3-15(4): Spring Break In The Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is correct. One of the reasons that we have DEAs and DECs is to allow that sort of local control. We expect that the school year will reflect what the communities and the families in the region want and expect and need to make sure that their cultures and traditions are reflected in the schools. So, yes, the school dates should reflect that. One of the other ways to do it would be not just by setting different dates for spring breaks, but would be, as some communities do, starting the school year close to the end of July or the very beginning of August, and then ending early in May so that the school year for many communities does leave a lot of time in the spring for people to get on the land. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.
Supplementary To Question 3-15(4): Spring Break In The Sahtu
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment if he would look into having children who may wish to go out on the land during the spring breaks as part of their educational curriculum so that they are not dinged for missing certain days of the school year, so that is maybe an educational social issue or health issue that is part of the curriculum. Would the Minister commit to look into some type of option that would support this initiative? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 3-15(4): Spring Break In The Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, Mr. Speaker, I have already talked to the board chairs of all the DECs about this kind of programming. We have had a number of DECs that have implemented on-the-land programming as part of their regular educational program. Lutselk’e, in the last year, has had a very strong program. There have been a number of other ones. I know that there will be more in the coming school year. So that is an approach that is already welcomed and supported by the department. We encourage the Sahtu DEC to work with families and communities to explore the opportunities for doing so in that region, as well.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the heels of my Member’s statement, I would like to pose questions to the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. As we all know, the Minister is well educated in Japanese tourism so I don’t have to go into the value and the dollar amounts that they bring to the Northwest Territories. With all of that said, Mr. Speaker, in brief, would the Minister look at the feasibility of creating an NWT office in Tokyo, Japan? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bell.
Return To Question 4-15(4): NWT Tourism Office In Tokyo
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me first start by applauding the Member’s efforts to take the local company up on its offer to accompany them on a tour of Japan. I think it is important that we seek to better understand a number of different aspects of our tourism industry. I think this is certainly a good start. In terms of what we need to do going forward and how we look to develop the Aurora tourism industry, I met the other day with the new president of NWT Tourism. We have agreed that -- and this has been ongoing for some time now -- we are pretty close to being able to roll out a proposed new model for tourism that will separate and make distinct the industry advocacy function of the organization, separate from the destination marketing aspect. I think this is a real departure from the current state of affairs. I think it will be a marked improvement. We need to come forward to committee to have discussion on how that might operationally work and what it will mean. I think we are scheduled to do that either late in the week or early next week. I look forward to that discussion.
All of this is building toward additional support, I hope, in the business plans for tourism and for the industry. There are a number of things we can do. The proposal, such as the one that the Member has made, sounds very interesting. I would like to learn more about what would be required to increase our presence on the ground in Japan. I am sure there are a number of options ranging from a full-blown office to probably contracting some support on the ground in Japan. I would like to talk to the Member more about that and to the committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Supplementary To Question 4-15(4): NWT Tourism Office In Tokyo
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s perspective on that, because it sounds very positive. On a further note, when I was in Japan, I noticed that, speaking to people and I heard from the Japanese people, a presence of Canada and the aurora as a concept has a very low to minimum or, even further, non-existence profile. That is really what I am concerned about. We have an opportunity for a major impact. With all of that being said, would the Minister look at creating maybe a joint working group between industry, Regular MLAs and himself to help maximize our aurora opportunities in the North for all of the North? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bell.
Further Return To Question 4-15(4): NWT Tourism Office In Tokyo
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would certainly consider a range of options. I think the Member raises a very good point. After we sit down with committee, any initiatives moving forward would have to involve industry quite clearly. I think we recognize as a government that we can do more in terms of destination marketing. If our presence is very limited on the ground in Japan and we don’t have much of a profile, then we need to do something to address that very quickly. I would like Members’ thoughts. I would like committee’s thoughts on this, and also industry. So we do have to find a vehicle or mechanism for making sure that our government can work closely with Regular Members and the committee and, indeed, the industry association. What form that might take is certainly something that is up for discussion and up for debate. I am prepared to have that discussion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Supplementary To Question 4-15(4): NWT Tourism Office In Tokyo
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again on the heels of my Member’s statement, I spoke about visiting the Canadian pavilion. It wasn’t my intention to go to the pavilion, but I happened to be in the area so I made the extra effort to pop over for a few minutes and see the enthusiasm about the aurora. What I noticed key was the fact that the enthusiasm was built up to such a peak, then there was no one to send them in a direction of booking tours or acknowledging where to go, other than pointing to a map. Would the Minister take those types of comments and look into and investigate an opportunity that we can help promote the Northwest Territories as a destination of choice, rather than letting that enthusiasm fizzle away when they return home after visiting the Canadian pavilion? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bell.
Further Return To Question 4-15(4): NWT Tourism Office In Tokyo
Yes, Mr. Speaker. It sounds like quite a pent up demand for our product. We have to make sure that we have a way to deliver. There is no sense in creating this demand and not being able to satisfy it and not having someone on the ground ready to make sure we can channel people to the Northwest Territories. I think this speaks to our overall presence. I am very interested in hearing about the Expo site. As the Member knows, I haven’t been. We did send a reconnaissance team, a couple of staff people, to see the pavilion. It wasn’t yet fully constructed. I would like to take advantage of the Member’s knowledge and sit down and talk about logistically how we can make sure that we build this and to not only the week of focus that we are going to have, but a presence of some sort throughout the four-month-long event to make sure that as people come and have questions, somebody is there to answer them and to channel this interest to the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Earlier today, during Member’s statements, we heard from Members about the concern raised about relocating the Territorial Treatment Centre program from Yellowknife to Hay River. The issue of access was raised. What is the government’s policy with respect to regional access to territorial programs? There must be a policy in place which addresses this, because I know I spoke to this issue about services south of the lake until I was blue in the face in the last session. How big of a part does regional and community access play when it comes to territorial services? Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
Return To Question 5-15(4): Access To GNWT Treatment Programs
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. By definition, territorial facilities are there for the benefit of all 33 communities. Once again, by definition, the other 32 communities are going to have to generally travel to access the service that is in the one community where that service may be, be it Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Inuvik, Hay River, or anywhere else. When we have a territorial facility, we plan and budget for the travel that is required, as we will do in the case right now with TTC, which is here, and children come in from all the other communities. The process will be the same, only they will be located in Hay River. Children requiring that service will be transported down to Hay River. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Supplementary To Question 5-15(4): Access To GNWT Treatment Programs
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the thinking that precipitated this discussion about relocating this facility and this program was related to the availability and suitability of infrastructure which the territorial government presently owns and has maintained and invested money in. I was wondering if the Minister could speak to that issue of the infrastructure to accommodate the program in Yellowknife versus Hay River at this time. Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 5-15(4): Access To GNWT Treatment Programs
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, clearly this government has articulated the position that indicates they are willing to look at opportunities to decentralize services outside of Yellowknife when possible and feasible. In this case, we have an opportunity to access a facility that is about seven or eight years newer than the facility in Yellowknife. We had money already in the budget that we just have to transfer. It was vacant. It was an opportunity to in fact have a program run in a community that has the capacity to deliver the service at the same level, in my opinion, that is currently here. Those are the steps that have been taken. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Supplementary To Question 5-15(4): Access To GNWT Treatment Programs
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, just for clarity, in my Member’s statement, I talked about the relocation and transfer of employees. Some other Members made reference to this being a move to offer employment to people who lost their jobs as a result of the Justice closure in Hay River. In fact, Bosco Homes is a private contract; there is no opportunity to transfer. It is not the intended purpose. The gap was referred to of 18 months, but was not the intended purpose to relocate to absorb the laid-off employees from the GNWT in a private contractor’s personnel group that would be considered to carry out the service? Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 5-15(4): Access To GNWT Treatment Programs
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct; this is a contractual arrangement with Bosco Homes, which has been providing a very excellent level of service both in Yellowknife and Fort Smith for a good many years now. There will be an opportunity for people in Hay River, including those individuals who got laid off at Dene K’onia, to look at the jobs that are available, look at the job descriptions and the job requirements. If they are interested, they will be able to apply to access those jobs. It is our hope that that same opportunity will be given to those folks currently in Yellowknife if they want to transfer. Very clearly, there will be an opportunity there, but there is no direct relation to the program moving down there and the folks that used to be employed at Dene K’onia to be automatically given jobs. There will be positions out that have, in many cases, different job skills and skill sets required. They will be able to apply like everybody else. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Supplementary To Question 5-15(4): Access To GNWT Treatment Programs
Thank you. I certainly recognize the fact that we lost approximately 20 government jobs at Dene K’onia, including permanent and casual, and that 20 new private sector jobs will go some ways towards mitigating the loss in the community. As far as Hay River goes as a community, has thought already been given to the profile of the community in terms of opportunity, education, and ways of integrating these young people in programming in the community? Has Hay River been assessed from that perspective? Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 5-15(4): Access To GNWT Treatment Programs
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Hay River has a history of being able to provide services to children. In fact, before there was a young offenders' facility there, there was a receiving home and Dene K’onia had other uses other than a young offender facility. So they’re one of the largest communities outside of Yellowknife. They have a very high level of service in all the areas that are required to provide service to these children in need. So, yes, Mr. Speaker, we’ve looked at the capacity and it’s my opinion and the opinion of the department that this program can be delivered very effectively in Hay River. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask some questions picking up on my Member’s statement from earlier today. I’m trying to understand the decision-making process by the government in its proposal to move the Territorial Treatment Centre from Yellowknife to Hay River. Not that I’m opposed to that happening fundamentally, but I’m just trying to understand how the decision was arrived at. Maybe the Minister could help me understand, because I haven’t seen any consultation. I’m not on the Social Programs committee, but I haven’t seen any consultation with Members of this side of the House or any type of business plan or business case for this happening. I’m just wondering if the Minister could let us know what the decision-making process was in this proposal. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
Return to Question 6-15(4): Rationale For Treatment Centre Relocation
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this issue has been on the table for some time, since the money was first put in the budget to renovate TTC a number of years ago and the money was carried over as we looked at possible alternatives given the age of the facility here in Yellowknife. So in the last number of months, more detailed work was done and some basic preliminary technical assessments were done of the building. The comparison between the two, given the government’s stated position that they’re prepared to look at opportunities to decentralize, was there was an opportunity here that presented itself and we made a decision to proceed with the planning to relocate the program on that basis. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.
Supplementary to Question 6-15(4): Rationale For Treatment Centre Relocation
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to again get back to the decision-making. I know the Minister spoke of money being spent on technical work and I think that work was done by FSC Architects here in Yellowknife on the current facility. I’m just wondering if that money was spent to see if the facility could actually be renovated to house the treatment centre for the immediate future here, or was the intention just to shut the facility down and that $180,000 that was spent on that FSC contract actually was just spent with the full intention of moving the TTC out of Yellowknife and into Hay River. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return to Question 6-15(4): Rationale For Treatment Centre Relocation
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this decision is one that has some history, as the Member has indicated and I have talked about in this House. There were decisions made and there was some revisiting of some decisions. There was initial work done to TTC, as well. We looked at Hay River. There was some work started in Yellowknife to look at what was possible there, as well. The decision was ultimately made before we were too far along any given track to move the program to Hay River and steps were made to do that. Any work that was initiated to look at TTC and be renovated in Yellowknife was ceased. The plan is now to refocus on the move to Hay River. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.
Supplementary to Question 6-15(4): Rationale For Treatment Centre Relocation
