Debates of May 27, 2005 (day 3)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Picking up on my Member’s statement from earlier today, I’d like to say that the Minister and the government are saying all the right things about apprenticeship and the need to develop a skilled workforce here in the Northwest Territories. Madam Speaker, the reality is that’s not the case for all the apprentices, and where there is smoke there is fire. I know the Minister received an e-mail yesterday outlining some difficulties a constituent of one of my colleagues was having, and the scenario that I outlined for him earlier today is not one that I haven’t heard before and I have heard some serious concerns about the apprenticeship office and the difficulty apprentices are having accessing the needs and the services that they require. I’d like to ask the Minister of ECE if it’s not the role of the apprenticeship office to help northerners enter the trades. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 27-15(4): Apprenticeship And Training Program Concerns

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Absolutely, yes. It is the role of the apprenticeship office. It’s the role of all of the staff that work in Education, Culture and Employment to make sure that people have the best opportunity to advance.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 27-15(4): Apprenticeship And Training Program Concerns

Yes, thanks, Madam Speaker. Does the Minister know why it would take my constituent five months to get a seat at the entrance exam, and why would the office not keep a waiting list for people wanting to take that exam? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 27-15(4): Apprenticeship And Training Program Concerns

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I’m disturbed to hear that that wasn’t looked after in the office and that there wasn’t a waiting list kept. I will follow up on that issue. I know that over this past winter we added a second officer to the staff at the North Slave office. I’m hoping that this incident occurred before that person was added, and that we have dealt with issues like that now. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 27-15(4): Apprenticeship And Training Program Concerns

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I’d also like to ask the Minister why this office wouldn’t better coordinate the trades training with a partner school down south so that if classes are full here or they are cancelled for no apparent reason that students can be routed down south so that they can continue their education. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 27-15(4): Apprenticeship And Training Program Concerns

Thank you, Madam Speaker. That is the intention. That should be happening already. I’ve asked the department to discuss this issue with Aurora College and make sure that we’re managing our cancellation policies better than what appears to be the case. That discussion will happen within the next couple of weeks. The department does often pay for apprentices to study in the South. One of the problems that we run into though is when the number of participants suddenly declines, when it’s not expected the courses can be cancelled. Right now in the North we cancel the course if we have fewer than five students. For instance, the last time the plumbers course was scheduled in Thebacha, just at the last minute two who were registered to attend dropped out, which brought the number down to three for that course, and at that point it was too late to get them into the courses that were offered in the South, and that’s what has lead to some of the problems. Knowing that that is an issue, we are going to work with the college and try and come up with a different way of managing the cancellations to try to ensure that we are able to deal with these issues in a more proactive way.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 27-15(4): Apprenticeship And Training Program Concerns

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, given the issues that he has heard about today and the issues that are out there, I know my colleagues have heard other issues related to this office, I am wondering if he could commit to doing a review of this training program. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 27-15(4): Apprenticeship And Training Program Concerns

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will have to get more details on what he means by a review. The overall program of apprenticeship is administered by the apprenticeship board, but the operation of the offices is something that is run by the department. If the Member is asking whether or not we will review the operation of the offices, absolutely. That process has already started and will hopefully be concluded very quickly.