Debates of February 13, 2025 (day 44)

February
13
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
44
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay Macdonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Mr. Testart, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek. Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Mrs. Yakeleya
Assembly Members
Topics
Acknowledgement 11-20(1): Sahtu Recipients of 2024-2025 Indigenous Language Revitalization Scholarships
Member’s Statement 494-20(1): Building Shelter Capacity Fund
Member’s Statement 495-20(1): Aurora College Community Learning Centre Closures
Member’s Statement 496-20(1): Innovation in Response to Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closures
Member’s Statement 497-20(1): Dilapidated Housing in Small Communities
Member’s Statement 498-20(1): Opportunities for Indigenous Employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 499-20(1): Access to Affordable Childcare
Member’s Statement 500-20(1): State of Child and Family Services
Member’s Statement 501-20(1): Implementation of Northwest Territories Early Learning and Childcare Agreement
Member’s Statement 502-20(1): Land Title Transfers for Private Homes
Member’s Statement 503-20(1): Hand Games Tournaments
Minister’s Statement 94-20(1): Celebrating Indigenous Languages
Minister’s Statement 95–20(1): Regional Support for Supply Chain Success
Motion 46-20(1): Extended Adjournment of the House to February 25, 2025
Question 507-20(1): Implementation of the Northwest Territories Early Learning and Childcare Agreement
Question 508-20(1): Implementation of the Northwest Territories Early Learning and Childcare Agreement
Question 509-20(1): Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closures
Question 510-20(1): Innovation in Response to Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closures
Question 511-20(1): Shelter Network Funding and Training
Question 512-20(1): Remediation and Demolition of Housing Northwest Territories Units in Mackenzie Delta
Question 513-20(1): Effectiveness of Indigenous Employment Programs in the Public Service
Question 514-20(1): Child and Family Services Plan of Care Agreements
Question 515-20(1): Implementation of the Northwest Territories Early Learning and Childcare Agreement
Question 516-20(1): Implementation of the Northwest Territories Early Learning and Childcare Agreement
Tabled Document 291-20(1): Annual Report to the Legislative Assembly under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act
Statements

Question 509-20(1): Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closures

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I just want to say that education is a treaty right, and small communities do matter. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of ECE confirm whether Aurora College or the departments are discussing transferring responsibility for learning centres to Indigenous governments and also in Fort Resolution and Lutselk'e? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we're working with the college, as I've said before in this House, to understand their plans for future delivery of adult literacy and basic education. So part of that engagement will be communicating with Indigenous governments around future delivery of adult education to ensure that residents and communities are supported. And Indigenous governments, I can confirm again, some have reached out to both the department and I on their future use and expectation of how they'd like to see the facilities used. So this will all kind of be part of that go-forward plan, and I really am a strong component of us being creative in what that looks like and flexible as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister of ECE also explain who currently owns the learning centre in Fort Resolution and Lutselk'e? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can confirm that the community learning centre in Fort Resolution is currently owned by the GNWT. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister also commit to using their learning centre building in Fort Resolution as a traditional knowledge learning centre, also in Lutselk'e? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said to the Member I'm very happy to have these conversations, but to be honest I think having these conversations are a huge opportunity for the territory in figuring out what really is needed within communities, and I'm excited to be able to kind of share with this House what that next step looks like and certainly won't be doing that in isolation on my own. This is certainly a Northwest Territories conversation and, more specifically, a community conversation, and I really look forward to having those. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from the Sahtu.