Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one out of every five Canadians is facing mental health problems or illnesses today. Nearly half of the population will experience such issues at some point in their life. These numbers are even higher in the NWT. There are countless more statistics about mental health that I could quote, but I’m not going to. Mental health is about people, not numbers, and I feel confident saying that most people have either battled or are battling mental health issues, or know the struggles of someone close to them who is. I don’t think I need to convince anyone of the importance of doing everything we can to eliminate mental illness to the greatest extent possible.
That’s why I’m so frustrated with the state of mental healthcare in the territory, and in Hay River in particular. I’ve heard that, if you had mental health issues 10 years ago, you were lucky to be there because the services provided were excellent. However, Mr. Speaker, I’ve heard too many times from too many people that accessing mental health services in Hay River now can be a nightmare, frankly.
Anyone who’s been to counselling knows that it’s not a pleasant experience, especially the first time when you have to open up to a stranger and dig up all the things you try to avoid thinking about. In Hay River, we always have good counsellors; the problem is they’re usually not there for long. For some reason, despite the generous pay, people don’t want to stay. That means that those seeking help are forced to tell their story, from the beginning, to new people, over and over again.
Too often, this means that our residents do not receive adequate treatment and end up accessing emergency services because there’s nowhere else to go. We’re actually lucky to have permanent doctors in Hay River who are well versed in mental health issues, but issues arise again when these doctors refer patients in crisis to a psychiatrist. It’s my understanding that such emergency referrals are to be carried out within 24 hours, yet I’ve heard multiple cases of this taking weeks, contrary to GNWT policy.
When residents do arrive in Yellowknife for a session with a psychiatrist, they face further obstacles. They must once again open up to a stranger who, after meeting them for only an hour and a half, will have a major impact on the future of their treatment, and ultimately their well-being. After this emotional 90-minute session, which leaves many patients drained and in tears, they are shown the door, sent out into the world and back to the airport, with no place or time to calm down or recover. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t want to malign any of our healthcare professionals, but I’ve heard again too many times that patients do not feel that their issues are validated by the psychiatrists in Yellowknife, and patients often leave not only feeling more helpless, but also insulted.
Mr. Speaker, I haven’t even touched on the legwork that those seeking treatment are required to do just to access mental health services. There are countless phone calls to make and forms to fill out, with no one person they can look to to show them what needs to be done. They have to wade through a bureaucratic nightmare and become tireless advocates for themselves, just to receive treatment. This is not right, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I mentioned earlier that there was a time when Hay River had excellent mental health services, so I know that we can provide those services again, both in Hay River and in Yellowknife, but changes need to be made. I will have questions for the Minster of Health at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to move item 11 on the orders paper, replies to budget address. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week the Minister of Finance presented the 2017-18 GNWT budget. Welcome to the land of lost dreams and lost per diems. It's not what I would describe this submission. Mr. Speaker, compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Policy by maintaining an AA1 credit rating through prudent sound financial management are fundamental principles of forecasting the best suitable O and M program and modest debt realization plan for the people of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, our legislative directives must echo practical and physical attentive management. The pending budget is a reflection of this. The GNWT, with its competitive credit status, competitive taxation regimes, resource development potential, and abilities for diversification only must come to reality on what it possesses. One example we see is the approximate 90,000 visitors visiting our pristine attractions through the tourism sector.
Borrow to spend. Mr. Speaker, the notion you should borrow your maximum allowable ceiling to support program service delivery is a recipe for insolvency. Through meaningful departmental reviews on efficiencies we enhance maximization on value for program and service deliveries. If we can reduce by 1 per cent on efficiencies we will see over $100,000 in savings.
Mr. Speaker, the majority industry drivers to our economy are government, mining, construction, and tourism. These industries are supported by the supply chain vendor community, another economic contributor to the NWT economy. Combining these labour-intensive industries contributes an excess of 40 per cent of our NWT GDP. The recent announcements of the all-weather roads to Whati, to Canyon Creek forecast a labour allowance of 30 per cent that will contribute $70 million to the workforce community and training individuals.
Mr. Speaker, we must take and continue the national and international competitive approach for the potential resource productions that lie within our region. This is done by marketing strategy and strategic planning, through presentations and advertisements.
Mr. Speaker, we are in a postproduction era for remaining opportunities. The abundance of resources identified by the many studies truly reveals the North's potential. Production means royalty revenues over and above TFS. With our aging infrastructure, it is of vital importance to position our physical capabilities for replacements and upgrades, Mr. Speaker; aging infrastructure. Our children should not experience going from one building to the next for continuation of education curricular studies. This can be experienced in the community of Colville Lake. Our youth deserve and expect better programming and services.
Consensus government means to work in collaboration with the territorial stakeholders, especially in the isolated smaller communities. The Sahtu region struggles with some of the highest and lowest income and unemployment rates and the highest cost of living, similar to other areas of the NWT.
I quote a study done last year which states, "Cost of living and inequality: heavy reliance by communities in the Sahtu region on imported food and fuel contributes significantly to the high cost of living. The cost of living in the NWT has been higher than the Canadian average for six of the past eight years, particularly in the Sahtu communities. Yellowknife residents pay 10 per cent more for the same food basket than Edmonton residents, while community residents of Tulita, Deline, and Norman Wells paid 50 per cent more than those in Yellowknife."
Mr. Speaker, Northerners are resilient. The North produced one of Canada's unique hydrocarbon oil fields, low in sulphur, sweet crude; in fact, so lucrative it was not included in the devolution agreement. This gold mine was founded by "Tommy the Ox," as my associate Member last year made so eloquently in his presentation, a prime example that agriculture and industry can work in harmony with each other. This proven history innovation only adds to homeland food security as identified in our agricultural strategy.
Mr. Speaker, guarantee the implementation effectively for all the foregoing analysis and, in my views, I will be supporting this budget. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Last of all, consider government conventions. Point number three: open and respectable communication between all Members is the most central feature of consensus government. While it is important to reach unanimous agreement on all issues, the opportunity for all Members to have meaningful input into the important decisions is fundamental. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Replies to budget address. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the MLA for Great Slave to lend my support to the budget in front of us today.
I have been in the Assembly for about 10 years and I have gone through 10 budget exercises and, every time we have gone through a budget in this Legislative Assembly in the last 10 years, there has been some give and there has been some take. There has been working together long hours into nights to work out ways to meet the needs of all Members on both sides of this House to make sure that we have the best budget possible in front of us. I am confident that with this budget, as with every other budget that has come in front of this House for the last 10 years, the same will occur.
I say that, but I also register some frustration that I am having with this particular budgeting process. In my 10 years, Mr. Speaker, I have never seen a budget process where there has been such resistance to the budget and drawing of such incredibly hard lines. In the media last week, there was a press release where it basically indicated that, unless the items that are demanded are included in this budget, there will be no movement. I find that frustrating as an MLA, Mr. Speaker. I find that frustrating as a resident.
As a Cabinet Minister, I also find that frustrating, but I listened very carefully to the comments of all the Members of this House and there is clearly frustration on their side, as well. I can promise you that there is frustration on this side. This is consensus government, Mr. Speaker. Consensus government is not about everybody agreeing. Consensus government is about everybody having the opportunity to be heard, listened to, and understood. There will be disagreements, Mr. Speaker. We can't have a system where there isn't disagreement. I would, in fact, be worried about a system where everybody agreed on everything.
I really appreciated the comments that many of the Members made about some of the give and take that has occurred. There has been some give and take to this point. Mr. Speaker, I am privy to the same letters that all the Members are privy to, coming back and forth between committees and Cabinet, and I have seen letters from Cabinet indicating significant movement, $4.5 million in reductions taken off the table based on solid input, advice, and guidance from the Regular Members. I have also seen the inclusion of $14.5 million in new initiatives, items that have come up as part of our mandate. Yes, 911 was not specifically in our mandate, but I would say we are hardpressed not to find or believe that 911 is clearly something that is important to the people of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, we all must work together to find a resolution and solution to this budget. We must back off hard lines, and we must work together. I do say that, recognizing, as I said, there are a couple of areas of frustration that I have experienced in listening to the statements, and I once again applaud the Members in bringing their concerns forward and working with us to resolve them, but there are a couple that I need some clarity on. There are some questions that have arisen in my mind, as an MLA, based on the statements that have been made over the last couple of days.
On February 6th, according to the unedited Hansard, Julie Green, the MLA for Yellowknife Centre, said, and I quote, "We are looking at as many as 200 positions being eliminated this fiscal year and the next, creating a major hit to the public service and to the local economy throughout the Northwest Territories. As the reality of those losses combined with the slowdown of our economy sinks in, how do we reverse this flow of out migration?"
Mr. Speaker, I would love to seek some clarity on that comment. I am not sure where the number 200 came from. I have gone back and looked at letters and documents that are available to all Members, and what I have seen is that in 201617 there were 124 positions impacted. That was 56 employees, Mr. Speaker. Of those 56 employees, 40 were retained by the Government of the Northwest Territories. That means they were redeployed. They continue to work for the Government of the Northwest Territories. Five retired. Nine were laid off.
Ultimately, I agree with Members; we don't want to lay off employees. Employees are our most valuable asset, but we weren't able to find them jobs, and we do struggle with that. As a note, one remains impacted and one has yet to receive an offer because they were on a leave of absence. When they return, obviously, they will get one.
In 201718, Mr. Speaker, the budget we are talking about today, 65 positions are potentially impacted. It doesn't become official until the budget is approved or not, as the case may be. Thirtysix employees are affected. Eleven of those are eligible to retire. Twentyone are potentially affected. Four of them have already been identified for redeployment should the budget pass.
Mr. Speaker, I have been an employee of the Government of the Northwest Territories. I have been an MLA. I have been a Minister. I am confident when I say that this government is committed to our most valuable resource, to the people and to the employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories, and I know through watching and being involved that this government will work closely with them and focus on their retention.
I would also just like to add a point with respect to staff complement in the Government of the Northwest Territories, both before and after the budget that is before this government and this Assembly for consideration. While there are reductions that affect staff, absolutely true, this budget adds 17 positions to the public service overall. The GNWT and its public agencies expect to employ 5,626 people in that number of positions over the next fiscal year, which is up from 5,609. This is a growth in the number of positions overall in the public service. So I appreciate the Member's perspective. I hear her frustration. I am trying to understand the numbers that are being presented, and I would certainly love to sit down with the Member to see if she can help me understand where she is coming from.
Mr. Speaker, I have known Mr. Testart, the MLA for Kam Lake, for a number years. This is a man who is clearly passionate about politics and wants to do good for the people of the Northwest Territories, and is very interested in procedure. I respect him for all that he does for the people of the Northwest Territories, but I have a problem with a comment in his statement. I am seeking to get some clarity on that.
On February 2, 2017, in the unedited Hansard, Mr. Testart said, "During the first operation budget, we again saw a return to debt management and reductions as a driving force of the government's fiscal strategy to underpin all of its spending commitments. This in fact led Members of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning to label this budget an austerity budget, motivated by a reduction target of $150 million."
Mr. Speaker, I thought about this a lot and tried to understand exactly what was being said, recognizing that I believe the Member, as all Members, wants the same thing that Cabinet wants, which is an effective budget to meet the needs of the residents of the Northwest Territories. So, I went and looked up the definition of "austerity budget":
"An austerity budget is an attempt to significantly curtail spending in an effort to control public sector debt, particularly where the nation is in jeopardy of defaulting on its bonds."
It goes further, Mr. Speaker:
"The term 'austerity' is more likely to be used when government spending cuts and higher taxes occur during a recession or during a period of very weak economic growth. Austerity implies that spending cuts and tax increases are highly likely to have an adverse impact on aggregate band and economic growth."
I didn't feel and I don't feel, as a citizen, as an MLA, as a Minister, that what is being presented today is in fact an austerity budget, but I wondered what it was. So, I looked up the definition of "balanced budget":
"A balanced budget (particularly that of a government) refers to a budget in which revenues are equal to expenditures. Thus, neither a budget deficit nor a budget surplus exists (the accounts balance). More generally, it refers to a budget that has no budget deficit, but could possibly have a small budget surplus."
Now, in looking at the information that is available to the public, the GNWT is proposing to spend just over $1.7 billion on its operations in the coming fiscal year and another $266 million on infrastructure. That is about $2 billion that the government plans to spend in the next fiscal year. Most of it will go back into the NWT economy in the form of salaries for staff, contract services for residents, and purchasing with NWT businesses and companies.
This is a reduction, Mr. Speaker. There is no denying that. This is certainly a reduction. It represents less than a 0.04 per cent reduction from the previous year's spending, and the government, this Assembly, is dealing with revenues that are only increasing by 1.2 per cent. In this budget, there is growth, Mr. Speaker. We have seen an increase in the number of positions in the public service.
Mr. Speaker, the second part of the concern I have with that statement made by Mr. Testart is the continued reference to the $150 million target. As I said, as a Member, I am privy to the same correspondence as is shared with committee and Cabinet and, in a letter from the Minister of Finance on December 16th, it states clearly that we believe we can meet our fiscal objectives with the implementation of the proposed $101 million expenditure reductions and revenue initiatives.
This is a long way from $150 million, and it was my understanding that, at that time, the government of the day was clearly articulating that $150 million is not the target being utilized. Yes, Members are correct, during the budget planning process, $150 million was still on the table, but, based on the dialogue, discussion, and working with committee in the House, that reduction was moved from $150 to $100 million. They were made aware at that time.
Mr. Speaker, I also had some concerns with statements that were made by Mr. Thompson, so I wrote them down. According to the February 2, 2017, unedited Hansard, Mr. Thompson said, "Mr. Speaker, I am not saying that it is strictly Cabinet's fault or the Regular Members' fault. It is all our faults. We need to work better together. Mr. Speaker, lack of communication is a major challenge." After I wrote it down, I realized I actually totally agree with what the Member is saying. The Member is right. Our inability and our frustration to move forward with this budget is all of our fault. It is not one side or the other, and, clearly, we need to work better together.
When we first met at the start of this Assembly, we talked a lot about the importance of doing government better. We agreed that changing the way that the Assembly does business was one of our priorities. Strengthening consensus was one of the ways that we said we would do that. Strengthening consensus is an appealing idea that is easy for people to get behind. To make it happen, though, we have to know exactly what we mean by it, and we have to know what we mean by "consensus" to begin with.
The way I see it, Mr. Speaker, consensus is about hearing the voices of every Member in this House, no matter which side they sit on the floor. Consensus is about taking the best ideas, wherever or from whomever they come, and turning them into government policy. It isn't about implementing a onesided and predetermined party platform like you would see in most other Canadian jurisdictions.
Consensus is about hearing what matters to the people right across the Northwest Territories and doing what is best for them. It is not about "getting the win" for one side or the other or for one point of view over another. Sometimes, once we've heard and debated all sides of an issue, doing what is best for the Northwest Territories means setting aside our individual preferences and priorities.
While that may be hard, the fact is that, when people of the Northwest Territories win, we all win. We should feel proud of every decision that we make together that serves our people with the best interests of the territories, whatever our individual views. Finding consensus on the important issues that face the Northwest Territories is an ongoing process. It takes time, and it takes work, sometimes hard work, for each of us. It requires us to be engaged in an ongoing conversation about what this territory needs and how we should address those needs.
As an Assembly, we have agreed to a formal process for carrying out that conversation and for making collective decisions. That process is established in documents like The Guiding Principles and Process Conventions of Consensus Government, in our committee structure, and the rules that govern debate. Our guiding principles say that consensus government is defined by the ability and willingness of all Members to work together within our respective roles for the collective good of the Northwest Territories.
One way we must make sure we are doing this is by working with standing committees through established processes, like we do in budgets every year. We recognize there is frustration. We recognize we have to work harder, but budget takes both sides working together, Mr. Speaker.
Well, budget day is not a bit of an event. It is a result of months of work and discussions between Cabinet and standing committees. That discussion begins each fall, when draft business plans for every department are shared with standing committee for review and analysis, something not available in party systems, Mr. Speaker. Ministers then meet with the appropriate standing committees to answer questions sometimes good, sometimes bad hear concerns, get input and suggestions on the government's plans for the upcoming fiscal year.
Recommendations from standing committees to add or cut specific items from the upcoming budget are often made as part of those meetings and continue to be discussed in correspondence and further meetings in the months leading up to the budget day. For this current budget, Cabinet received quality input and cautions for committee that resulted in important changes to the budget before you. On October 28th, the Minister of Finance wrote committee and indicated $4.5 million in reductions based on requests from committee would not be moving forward. Also on that date, he indicated -- that is, the Minister of Finance -- the Cabinet would add $6 million in initiatives that would be added as priorities to consist with the mandate. There are a few more, but because they are specific to positions I don’t want to add concerns to residents in potentially what could have been impacted positions.
Overall, $14.8 million worth of changes. Budget banking is a balancing act, Mr. Speaker. There is always some need for more money to meet them and there are more ways and more wants on top of that. Finding a way to pay for essential services and central programs and some nice-to-haves and wants without breaking the bank is a challenge even at the best of times. It's even harder when times are tough and revenues are uncertain.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to mention the comment made by Mr. Cory Vanthuyne on February 7, 2017, in the unedited Hansard. It says, "Mr. Speaker, the Finance Minister has told us the government has a three-pronged fiscal strategy. Let me share those with you.
Increasing fiscal capacity by lowering our operating expenditures or increasing our revenues;
Discipline spending to ensure expenditure growth is aligned with revenue growth; and
Reducing our reliance on our line of credit as a way to finance the day-to-day operations."
He went further to explain what that meant in his perspective, and I really appreciated his point of view. I've known the Member for a long time, back in the days when I had Brian May hair and he had long, long blonde hair. Good times.
He made a further statement, Mr. Speaker:
We have objected strongly to this target. He was referring to the $150 million which Cabinet moved off from after discussions in the fall with committee, and these were objected for a number of reasons. The key one is that they are simply too severe. I for one do not believe that it is either responsible or prudent to attempt to wipe out a year-end cash deficit accumulated over a number of years and estimated over $300 million in the life of this Assembly. We have asked time and time again to find compromises. Maybe one of the other fiscal reduction targets would have been a suitable compromise.
Mr. Speaker, normally I would agree 100 per cent. I think the way the Member described it was sound. I think his points are valid, but as a Minister, as an MLA, I think it's important that we don’t look just in the one-, two-, three-year window; we have to look at the long-term benefits or impacts on this government. The reason I can't agree completely with what the Member is saying is in the budgeting we know things are coming. We know that by 2026 we have to put in 258 long-term care beds. That's $139,000 in operation costs per bed that need to be added to the books of this government.
Mr. Speaker, by 2026 -- and these numbers are based on today and will need to be indexed appropriately -- that's $35,862,000. We know that there are mine closures over the same nine-year period. We know forced growth is upon us. We know union increases are coming, utility costs are going up. Every 1 per cent in union increase is $8 million added to the budget line, and we know, unfortunately, that there are always unforeseen challenges coming.
Mr. Speaker, I support this budget. I don’t believe it's the best budget. I believe it's a good budget. I believe that, given how we have worked in the past, there will be some room for negotiation and move on this budget as time goes by; but, Mr. Speaker, if you're not taking flack, you're not over the target. This is consensus government, Mr. Speaker, and I believe firmly that we can and we should work together, move away from hard lines and find real resolution on meeting the needs of the people of the Northwest Territories.
I've said it to Members and I'll say it again: I don’t believe that solidarity for the sake of solidarity benefits the people of the Northwest Territories. This building needs to work together. We must find a way to work together to bring forward a budget that meets the needs of the people, and I think we're there. I think we need to work together, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Thebacha resident and Fort Smith Town Councillor, Rashmi Patel.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Great Slave.
Mr. Speaker, I'd like to acknowledge the following people in the gallery today: Cynthia Carroll, who is the chair of the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance; Margaret Whelan, the board member of the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance; and Denise McKee, who is the executive director of the NWT Disabilities Council and a constituent of the Great Slave riding. I'd like to welcome them to the Chamber today and thank them for their hard work developing the Canadian Autism Partnership Project. Thank you so much.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today the Minister of Housing presented a progress statement on NWT housing. So in one of her statements she goes on to talk about moving vacant units into three-bedroom four-plexes. Can the Minister please provide this House what communities she's looking at doing it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently within the fiscal year, we're looking at doing the four-plexes specifically for single people to address homelessness in the communities of Fort Simpson, Behchoko, and Aklavik.
I thought it was something new. I knew about that, so I apologize. I thought we were looking at something new. Mr. Speaker, she goes later on to talk about demolition that is happening in the community. Does the corporation have a scheduled plan, because I've been talking about three houses in Fort Liard for a number of times and they've gone for sale and that. So now does the government actually have a plan that they're actually going to be able to share with us, when we're going to see these implemented?
I'd first like to address the first comment that was made in stating that this report was a report of what we've done up to this last year, up till now. So it's not about something new, although we have discussed that we will be looking at the last region, which is the Sahtu, within the next fiscal budget, so I haven't forgotten the Sahtu.
The other thing that we're talking about, the question that the MLA had asked me was about the surplus units, so yes we have a plan. We had committed that we would be doing 50 within this current fiscal year and 50 within the next. We had 101 vacant surplus units totally. We have decided that as many of those units will be sold as possible that are able to be sold that are still able to be renovated to live in. So we're in the process of trying to sell them still. We have been demolishing some of the units that have no use at all. We will continue to do that, and I am hoping that within the survey results there'll also be some more creative ideas such as hopefully things like how can we use the materials, how can we support employment, those kind of ideas that I'm hoping will come out before we get rid of all of these surplus units.
I thank the Minister for her answer. It still didn’t really give me a plan. We're going to get rid as many as we can, and it's unfortunate because I know in Fort Liard we've been trying to get that information from the Minister. Later on she talks about the importance of the local housing authorities in the communities of Fort Liard, Gameti, and Whati and people can go speak to the maintenance officers who might be there. So can the Minister please advise this House when these positions will be filled? Because in Fort Liard I know the housing manager is there, and I appreciate the government for doing that, but the maintenance officer is not there. So when will that position be filled?
In regards to the surplus units that the Member brought forward before he asked the question, if he would like to contact me we can provide a detailed list to any Member. In fact, I've done that for other Members here already on the surplus units that are in their communities, how many are up for sale and how many are to be demolished. Like I say, I have done that for other Members and I'm willing to extend that to all Members if they would like that.
The other thing on the local housing organizations in the new communities, we have job offers open and it's just the process. So I can't actually give a timeline on when positions would be filled because there is a process, again. You put the job offer out, you advertise it, people apply for the position. If there's a suitable candidate, we offer the position; we have to go internal first. We have to wait for the appeal process that can be closed. So to give an actual defined date on when somebody will be in the seat is something I cannot do.
Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for her answer. Just for the record, she has given me this information and the houses are still there. They still haven't been demolished and that. I appreciate that we're going to be doing this sometime hopefully by the end of this term. It will help the community.
My final question is: in regard to the Fort Liard Housing Authority, are they going to have a board? Presently in other communities they have a board. In Fort Simpson they have a board. So I'm trying to figure out, with the new local housing organization, will we have a new board or will they have to still report out of Fort Simpson? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The community of Fort Liard actually at this point hasn't really come forward. We've had one individual from the community who has asked to have a board. If the community is interested in having a board, then we would be more than willing to provide that for the community, but we would like the community to come forward, more than one single individual, to express their desire to have a board. Once we get the community on board, then we're more than willing to provide that.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and they are with regard to the recent announced closing of Aurora College's Teacher Education Program and the social work program. I'm wondering: how does the Minister in fact see the department meeting the goals of Skills 4 Success and the requirements of our mandate in the absence of these programs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department will be continuing to work with the college and other post-secondary partners to ensure that program is better aligned with the needs of the labour markets. We're also reviewing the Student Financial Assistance program to see how it might be used to incent and encourage NWT residents to pursue post-secondary education that is aligned with in-demand occupations and the needs of the labour market.
The Skills 4 Success document is also being used in high schools, and we sent it to all the schools across the Northwest Territories so that information can be shared with future post-secondary students. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you to the Minister for his reply, and he may have partially answered my next question. How is the Department of Education, Culture and Employment working with the current and prospective students to address their concerns and support their educational and professional needs? Mr. Speaker, we recently know that some students wrote to us with these concerns, and so I'm wondering how the department will work with them specifically to support their needs.
I mentioned a little bit of this yesterday, as well. The current students of these programs will be given the opportunity to complete their program at Aurora College, but there will be no new intakes, as was mentioned. Former students will also be given the opportunity to complete these programs. Aurora College staff are providing students with the support staff they need to ensure that they have the best chances for successful completion of the program that they're in. Potential future students, as I mentioned yesterday, we are meeting with our access program students to help them align with the best career path moving forward with them as well.
Again, thank you to the Minister for his reply. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to know: how is the Department of Education, Culture and Employment growing and enhancing post-secondary options in the North, particularly if these two programs are to be eliminated?
We're expanding opportunities for post-secondary education that includes other institutions such as Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning, as well as College nordique, and some of these will be addressed as government looks at developing a new overarching legislation for post-secondary education in the Northwest Territories.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, lastly I'm wondering: can the Minister make a commitment to provide the figures on historical enrollment and graduation for these two programs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we can commit to getting that information for the Member and all Members on the other side of the House. I just want to let the Members know that we also have approximately 33 NWT students attending teacher education programs outside the Northwest Territories, and we continue to support them through our Student Financial Assistance program; 13 are coming from communities outside Yellowknife, so we're getting students from the communities outside Yellowknife attending this. Additionally, there are approximately 19 NWT students presently attending social work programs outside of the NWT and eight coming from communities outside Yellowknife.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what we've been seeing for some time is a major initiative from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment in terms of the roll-out of the junior kindergarten initiative. I'm seeking some clarity and trying to give an opportunity to the Minister to provide some answers that could be very resolute, and given the confidence that this is going to go forward despite the ongoing issues and concerns.
My first question is: can the Minister immediately follow up with the chief and council at the Hay River Reserve to make sure they are appropriately included in all future discussions on JK? Mahsi.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe staff from my department had met on November 29th with the Aboriginal Head Start staff, staff at the K'atlodeeche School, as well as the school principal. I myself wrote a letter to the chief of K'atlodeeche First Nation and had asked him if he wanted to meet to address some of the concerns that he was asking. I believe I sent that letter out last month in January. I can look at the date again and see if we can set up a meeting.
My second question is: what are the current pupil/teacher ratios at the Chief Sunrise and Deh Gah Schools?
I don't have that detailed information in front of me right now, but I can commit that I'll get that information and I will share it with the Member.
This is my final question: how is the department ensuring that boards, education councils and education authorities are being kept up-to-date with all the recent changes so that these organizations can keep parents up-to-date?
As soon as the Budget Address was completed last week, our staff made phone calls to all the superintendents and was working out a plan moving forward. Of course, with the new funding that was announced, we're going to want to meet and talk with all the school boards and have them present information to parents as well. We, as a department, are going to be sending out letters to all parents as well who have junior kindergarten students, as well as information packages.
Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. The Minister has yet to brief the Members of the Standing Committee on Social Development on the MOU reached with the teachers. These are important changes, and the Minister is not making allies by ignoring it. That said, let us get into the rationale for this decision. What is the policy basis for cutting instructional hours? Thank you.
Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
