Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the report that we tabled last year, of course, we go out and we speak with all our stakeholders. As Minister responsible for Education, it is my duty to ensure that all families, all children, have access to the same quality of education and the best start at life when they start their education careers. Currently there are 11 communities in the Northwest Territories that do not have any licenced early childhood programs. As a government, we have to make sure that we provide services that give every family, every child, the equal opportunity to have the best start in their life, and that's what we're doing when we implement junior kindergarten. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the Minister for the answer. However, we’ve heard from a number of communities that they're saying that they would like the money actually to follow the child instead of going directly to junior kindergarten. Has the department looked at this option?
I want to remind the Member that I did make a statement in the House last year about significant improvements and changes to our early childhood programs for funded daycares and day homes. Maybe I can remind the Member to look at that statement again and speak with his constituents and the people who provide these programs, because they're very significant changes that actually improve the quality of staffing, the quality of funding, and even the curriculums moving forward.
It's not possible for the GNWT to fund both the public education system and private nonprofit early childhood programs when we look at delivering junior kindergarten. We can't continue to fund on top of what we're already funding. Delivering junior kindergarten within the school setting is both practical and fiscally responsible, because it utilizes already well-maintained, inspected, publically funded available school space for no additional rental or leasing cost to the GNWT, and it also provides more resources for the children that they wouldn’t possibly get in the daycare or the day home.
I thank the Minister for his answer. I have read that. I've read all your documentations. I've seen it, but I've got a whole bunch of communities out there that are asking these questions. When we're looking at implementing this junior kindergarten, has the department looked at additional costs such as busing, staffing to make sure that we have proper busing for these children, and the safety and then inclusive schooling with this junior kindergarten?
In the Member's riding, junior kindergarten has been rolled out over a number of years. We haven't really heard any concerns from them. We're actually hearing really good positive feedback of how junior kindergarten has been implemented in Nahendeh. The department is working with education authorities, as I had mentioned yesterday, to examine the requirements such as busing, such as safety. Of course, safety is the forefront and priority within our education authorities, as well as at the department. So when we speak with our staff and our education authorities and our superintendents, of course safety is in the forefront of the programs and services that they provide to junior kindergarten right up to grade 12. So, yes, of course we're looking at that.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that great answer, and yes junior kindergarten has been implemented in the Nahendeh riding. I'm glad the Minister recognized that and it does work; however, we're hearing a lot of concerns across the Territories. It's great we're looking at it, but there's going to be hidden costs to it. So instead of asking, that'll be another set of questions later on, but in regards to junior kindergarten will this be voluntary or are the communities going to have to be implementing this? There seems to be some miscommunication and misunderstanding. So will the Minister clarify that it is voluntary or mandatory? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As I mentioned yesterday when the question came up again, junior kindergarten will be implemented in the 2017-2018 school year. All education authorities will be required to offer junior kindergarten in 2017-2018, and education authorities have that option to offer it half day or full day.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I spoke of the Aurora College. The Aurora College has reached the termination of their Social Work Diploma program. I wonder if the Minster can provide some detail on that and why that decision was made, Mr. Speaker?
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just recently in the news yesterday and the information I was given the students, as well as instructors for the Social Work Program, historically we’ve had low admission as well as low graduation rates within that program, although I will say that there have been some successes for the people that did graduate. Aurora College does have the autonomy to make these decisions in where they're looking at moving forward with the programs that they provide. We support those decisions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
What direction has the Minister given to Aurora College for its programming offerings and overall direction ahead of the strategic plan being released?
Early on in my position in the role of Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, we had given our board of governors a mandated letter on how we roll out programs within the Aurora College system, and we met with the board chair and the president to make sure that it's reflective of our strategic plan moving forward and the mandate that we, as 19 Members, have mandated our priorities in this government, and that that was the direction going forward.
With the strategic plan, we did make reference to our labour market information report as well as our Skills 4 Success document to make sure that our Northerners get the education that they need to get into the jobs that are in demand across the Northwest Territories.
Thank you to the Minister for that. It's good that we're giving more handson direction to the college, as they take a lot of our funding and, in fact, nearly all of our postsecondary education funding to provide these services.
Mr. Speaker, does the Minister believe that the college is properly resourced? Could the $3million reduction that's being proposed in this budget have anything to do with the termination of programs such as the Social Work Diploma degree?
As I mentioned, the Aurora College does have that autonomy to make the decisions they need. We did give them direction with the mandate on the priorities that our government came up with at the beginning of the 18th Legislative Assembly. We looked at that labour market information demand. We are going through a strategy right now, and that strategy should be available in June. We are working with the board of governors, we are working with the president to make those changes.
Does this move by the college fit into the mandate of this Assembly and the direction it has set?
One of the things a Northern Social Work degree can do is help implement the TRC recommendations and help with the stated goals of reconciliation. I know firsthand that one of my constituents would prefer to work with an Indigenous social worker, with recent dealings with the health system. Does this move fit into the mandate? Can the Minister be clear in how it fits into the mandate, to cancel this program?
As I mentioned, the program historically has had low admission as well as low graduation rates. The mandate that we provided as a government is focused on Aurora College's focus and looking at our mandate when they develop their strategic plan.
I've got to remind the Member that we do have a great student financial assistance program, that we continue to support our students who want to go and get an education in other institutions, and we'll continue to provide that support. We've made great enhancements to that support. Any student who is concerned about this program, we will work with them to have a smooth transition into other institutions that provide the same quality, that will meet the TRC recommendations, and can hopefully come back up North and work and provide services to our residents of the Northwest Territories.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, why are these decisions being made ahead of the strategic plan? I listed a number of them in my Member's statement, but we've seen a heavy equipment operators' facility, the termination of this diploma, aligning Aurora College with the labour market forecasting. These seem like strategic moves, so why are we making these decisions and reducing the contribution to Aurora College ahead of the release of the strategic plan? It seems like we are rushing to make changes without letting the public and Members of this House know exactly what is happening with our most important tool to provide quality postsecondary education in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned earlier, we are going to have the new strategic plan for the Aurora College. That's going to redefine how Aurora College runs its programs to provide the program services that our Northerners want to get into, and also for the indemand jobs.
As I mentioned, this program in particular had low admission and low graduation rates. As I mentioned, again, the Aurora College, they have the autonomy to make the decisions that they want to do in terms of developing their whole strategic planning, and we support the decisions that the Aurora College makes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As mentioned in my Member's statement, my questions will be to the Minister of Lands. My first one here, Mr. Speaker, is: if any, what has the department done on the industrial waste reclamation file for the northern oilfield? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Lands.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, the Imperial Oil is responsible for the remediation of oil and gas operation at Norman Wells. I understand they've recently posted a $180million irrevocable letter of credit. We're continuing to monitor and engage the Sahtu Land and Water Board's closure and reclamation planning process, so I can advise that we are on top of this file. This is a complex matter. Of course, the majority, in fact virtually all, of the assets of Imperial Oil are in the proven area, which is an area of federal responsibility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I welcome the response. My next question is: will the Minister support an oversight committee? As I mentioned in my previous statements, there's a particular site outside the proven area boundary, so therefore there's a demonstration that oversight is needed outside of the proven area of boundary, which is an obligation to this government. My question is: is the Minister willing to support an oversight committee?
I understand that the MLA opposite also raised this question in September, and the Minister of ITI at the time thought that an oversight committee at that time was premature. I think that's still this government's position.
Moving forward, and to get some commitment so we have land management to address these issues of contamination, is the Minister willing to support, with my invitation, to have a stakeholders meeting here in Yellowknife, at his office?
Mr. Speaker, this is of course a very important issue, and I am willing to consider such a meeting. Perhaps it would be best if other Ministers were included, so I will consult with them and get back to the Member opposite on that issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Housing. My first question, Mr. Speaker, is: can the Minister identify the current number of inuse or available public housing and market rental units in Nunakput communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Within the region, within Tuktoyaktuk itself, we have 162 public housing units and nine affordable housing units; in Paulatuk, we have 57 public housing units and nine affordable housing units; in Ulukhaktok, we have 90 public housing units and 11 affordable housing units. Sachs Harbour, we have 20 public housing units and five affordable housing units. That makes a total, Mr. Speaker, of 320 public housing units and 34 affordable housing units.
I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, my second question is: how is the Housing Corporation progress in its housing project conversations with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation?
As some of the Members may be aware, NWT Housing Corporation had originally had money in that region within this budget, this coming budget. We had to do a reallocation of that because the federal government gave the monies directly to the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. So that was $15 million totally; $10 million coming up in the new fiscal year.
So the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, which I will call "IRC" from here on, does have the discretion to use their funding as they see fit. However, we have met with them and we both decided that it is in the best interest to the residents of the Northwest Territories to work in partnership. So we have had many meetings with the IRC. We have given them our templates; they have come back. We have signed agreements. They are looking at tailoring some of the projects a little bit more. We gave them a range of ideas. They are liking the seniors' units at this point. So we are willing to work with them on their terms to ensure that the housing needs within the region are met and that we are providing the best services to the residents of the Territories.
It's good to hear that progress. Mr. Speaker, my third question is: can the Minister provide an update on the corporation's single four-plex projects and how the work may be expanded in the years to come?
Sixty-two per cent of the public housing wait list actually at this point is comprised of applicants needing a single bedroom unit, so we do have a huge demand for single units, and it's really hard to balance that need for singles when we also have needs for families with children. We will be putting a huge emphasis, though, within the coming year on singles. Like I had said in my previous answer, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation also recognizes the need for seniors and are working with us to address this issue within their region.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the response from the Minister. Mr. Speaker, my final question is: how is the corporation advertising its survey to Nunakput residents? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Previous announcements to the Housing survey were provided through various methods: we did some media campaign; we did a radio campaign. We have our local Housing organizations and our government service officers trying to go work with people; the government services officers, when they're doing their home visits, to actually get the survey done.
It was requested that we extend the survey for one month at the beginning of this session. I have agreed because it is more important for me to get quality work than to just get the work done. So we are, again, refocusing our campaign. We are really being more strategic in our radio campaign so that it is actually hitting the targets of when the community people do listen to the radio more than other times, and the communities that have low response rates we are trying to get out and knock on more doors to be able to have a good representation from every community so that this process will help us develop the community plans. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in follow-up to my Member's statement I have a few questions for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. I'd like to ask the Minister: has the Housing Corporation fully addressed the heating problems at the Joe Greenland Centre in Aklavik? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would love to be able to stand here on this side and say, yes, the issue is totally taken care of, but unfortunately that is not the reality of it. We have gone into the community; we've done some intensive reviews of the building. We have realized that there are some deficits within the building. We've realized that we need more heaters to be able to address the situation. There are some inequities within the heat that's in the building, so we are looking to address these things. In the meantime, though, every senior has a space heater.
One of the other things that we realized in looking at the building was that not only were there deficiencies within the heat system, but we did have a caretaker that was actually leaving the hallway doors open into the front entrance, which let the heat in. So we've also addressed that and asked him to please close the doors when he's in the building.
So we've spent a lot of time; the issues are not 100 per cent completed at this time, but we are projecting that they will be done. They are going in in February and that they will be completed by the end of this fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As the Minister mentioned, we have space heaters in our elders' rooms. I'd like to ask the Minister: can the Minister advise me why elders' bills are still being affected by changing heating costs at the Joe Greenland Centre?
