Earlier today in the speech that I gave in the Great Hall, we do a contest, a Stand Up and Stop Bullying campaign where we recognize students who have developed some visuals. We also have visuals in the school, in the public. We have a website that has, I believe, over 3,000 likes on it, as well as a Facebook page. The website is stopbullyingNWT.ca. We are taking a multi-pronged approach at this. Schools are also open to do their own awareness campaign to stop bullying. In the schools that I have been in, I have seen the posters in the hallways and in the classrooms as well.
One final question, then I'll stop picking on the Minister. We know that even if there are services available, some victims may not know how to reach out and get help. Can the Minister advise us what supports are available to help students who are being bullied and feel isolated?
There are many ways. As I mentioned to a Member earlier, we have the Skills for Healthy Relationships program, grades 7 to 12; the WITS program, kindergarten to grade 6; and the Positive Behaviour Support, kindergarten to grade 12. We also encourage students to talk to their parents, talk to their teachers, their peers, or a trusting adult. We are also working with other organizations where they are implementing some of their own anti-bullying programs. I believe through the Red Cross, we're looking and exploring ways at using their RespectED program. We are looking at that right now, to see how we can implement those in some of the schools. Anything that we can to mitigate the effects of bullying, the devastating effects it, not only has on our students, but also our teachers.
Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
[English translation not provided] Mr. Speaker, transparency was a key issue during the election for voters, and I think every Member of this House has made a clear commitment to engaging in government transparency and making that a centrepiece of this 18th Assembly moving forward. I have questions for the Minister of transparency on the Open Government Policy. Could the Minister provide an update as to how the progress is going in developing that policy?
Masi. Minister responsible for Public Engagement and Transparency.
Certainly, this is a new department and I'm a new Minister in it; however, I am consulting with my colleagues and we are looking at options for a more open and transparent government. In fact, the very discussions that we've had over the last week or two involving the mandate and other matters are an example of how we are moving forward with more open and transparent government. Once I receive my mandate letter from the Premier, I'll be able to give more detail about how we will be proceeding in this area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I appreciate we're still in the early days of this government and time needs to be taken to put things together. Does the Minister have a sense of what kind of resources or support to put together this policy and other initiatives as they relate to government transparency?
Of course, I'm counting on a very important resource, which is the input of all the Members in this House. Financially, we do not have a great deal of resources, but I am looking to hearing from all of you, assisting me in developing a more transparent and open government.
Thank you to the Minister for making a commitment to involve this side of the House in a very transparent and collaborative fashion. Will he make the same commitment to members of the public?
Yes, of course, we will make a commitment. We are looking very much for the involvement in the public in this new area. This government has embarked on this program, which, I think is fairly unique in government in Canada, so we are looking not only for the Members' input, but also input from the general public to guide us.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Final question for the Minister responsible for Public Engagement and Transparency. Can the Minister advise on a potential timeline? Of course, not within a day margin, but perhaps within two years. Could he commit to completing a policy within two years, and fully implementing that policy?
This is a new area and, of course, we are seeking input of the public and also all the Members of this House, but in view of its newness, its complexity, I don't think we can commit to a definite date.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the last couple of years we've had some very big fire seasons that cost the government a lot of money. I would like to ask the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources if there is a plan for the fire season this coming summer? Thank you.
Masi. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The NWT continues to be under severe seasonal drought conditions in a large portion of the NWT. ENR continues to implement strategies and objectives identified in the 2011 program review and the 2014 fire season to improve delivery of the programs the coming seasons.
I'd like to ask the Minister if the experts in his department have made predictions on what type of fire season we may encounter this summer and as far as size, number and complexity.
We continue to monitor snowfall for this seasons, but I have previously said to the Member, we continue to see the NWT in the drought conditions, so it's hard to predict what type of fire season we're going to have.
As the Minister said, drought seasons continue, so we may anticipate a big fire season, a fire season of many fires, many complexes. I'd like to ask the Minister if the plan is to use our own people to fight those fires or bring people from other jurisdictions.
Depending on the type of fire season we have, if we have a normal or below-normal fire season, we will continue to use our own resources. Anything beyond that, we may have to pull in other people from other jurisdictions.
Masi. Oral questions. Final supplementary. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to consult with Regular Members before a decision to bring firefighters from other jurisdictions?
As the Member knows, the complexity of some of these fires and the nature of them, if we have time we will definitely consult.
Masi. Oral questions. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to Item 5 on the orders of the day.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize a Page that I've known for a long time. I'd like to recognize Nicholas Bennett.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.
I'd like to welcome Karen Johnson, a Yellowknife North resident, here to the House. She's very involved with the Yellowknife Ski Club and World Snow Day, and is also the mother of one of our Pages, Niva Stephenson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled “Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, 2015-2017 Strategic Plan.” I note also that it's in four languages.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled “Aurora College Annual Reports, 2014-2015.”
I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Committee wishes to continue review of the Proposed Mandate of the Government of Northwest Territories, 2016-2019.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. We'll take a short recess and resume with the first item.
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I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. I’d like to recognize a guest in the gallery: Mr. Bob Bromley, former MLA for Weledeh. Committee, we’ve agreed to consider Tabled Document 1-18(2), as amended. Mr. Premier, do you wish to invite witnesses to the table?
Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses to the table. Premier McLeod, please introduce your witnesses for the record.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left, I have Penny Ballantyne, the secretary to Cabinet and deputy minister of the Executive. To my right, I have Michael Aumond, the secretary to the Financial Management Board and deputy minister of Finance.
Thank you, Premier McLeod. Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to return to the “Economy, Environment and Climate Change” section.
The Member has requested we return to the “Economy, Environment and Climate Change” section. Mr. Testart.
