Caitlin Cleveland

Member Kam Lake

Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment
Minister of Education, Culture and Employment

The Honourable Caitlin Cleveland was first elected in the 19th Assembly as the MLA for Kam Lake in 2019, and has served as the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, and Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment since 2023 after being acclaimed to the 20th Assembly. 

In addition to owning and operating a northern business for over 20 years, Minister Cleveland worked in a variety of communications and policy roles in both the public and private sectors before entering politics. 

Between 2019 to 2023, she chaired the Standing Committee on Social Development, fulfilling a goal to be a part of the discussions and decisions affecting social programs in the Northwest Territories. Her noteworthy work on the Committee included guiding the considerable review and input into recommendations on housing in the NWT, suicide prevention, and improvements to caring for children in care and building supported families. 

Within the scope of her portfolios, Minister Cleveland is focused on helping children grow into successful NWT residents that recognize opportunities and develop successful careers that contribute to a growing economy. She advocates for new approaches to sector diversification and innovation, and ensures the North is welcoming both skilled foreign workers and investment in the critical mineral resources across the territory. She persistently explores solutions for efficient and equitable access to programs and services, upholding a shared vision of an NWT where people are supported in the ways they wish to live, work, and grow. 

Minister Cleveland is a lifelong resident of Yellowknife where she lives with her husband and their three children.

Kam Lake Electoral District

Committees

Kam Lake
Constituency Office
Phone
Minister's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Phone
Extension
11124
Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Minister of Industry, Tourism, and Investment

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 114)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The IPC can open a file to review and investigate: GNWT decisions on access to information requests; Privacy complaints of improper collection, use, or disclosure of personal or health information; Privacy breach complaints; and

Any matter relating to the application of ATIPPA or HIA, whether or not an individual requested a review.

The IPC can also open a file to comment on the access and privacy implications of proposed legislation, policies, or programs.

Over the past 10 years, the number of files opened by the IPC has grown substantially. The number of files opened...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 114)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before the procurement review of the 19th Assembly, the 18th Assembly did a review of the northern manufacturing policy and that strategy. And from within that strategy, there were a number of actions that were suggested to the GNWT and that were committed to. And within the procurement review that was done in this Assembly, they suggested simply implementing those action items from the northern manufacturing strategy review. And so I'm wondering will these actions will implemented in the 20222023 fiscal year as our businesses and our business owners have...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 114)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Mr. Speaker, the department did a procurement review along with a large engagement with NWT businesses, and I'm wondering when the GNWT responses to the procurement review will be shared be the public, and does the GNWT intend to provide a draft response to standing committee for feedback first? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 113)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like Newfoundland, the NWT does not offer fertility treatment in its own jurisdictions, and the travel for this can be quite expensive, and I know that the Minister did reference working with a specialist, getting approval from a specialist and travelling south. But there seems to be a bit of some gray area between what some see as being a chronic illness and what some see as being an elective process. And so it means that not everything is covered and not everybody has access to medical travel. And so is the Government of the Northwest...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 113)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have to apologize to the Minister because I'm going to ask a question that I did not provide in advance just in relation to what she said.

So the pieces of treatment that are covered, will medical travel pay for any medical travel associated to access those services because a lot of those services aren't available in the territory? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 113)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one in six Canadian couples experience infertility. The costs of fertility treatments are financially, emotionally, and physically exhausting. Most companies, policies, and initiatives focus on issues like duration of parental leave, post leave integration, and work life balance. While pregnancy and child birth are highly visible and often celebrated, fertility challenges tend to be invisible, silent, and devastating.

Some employers are working to walk the talk when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion, recognizing and supporting the diverse ways...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 113)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Finance.

Some employers are working to walk the talk when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion, recognizing and supporting the diverse ways that families grow. Many of these employers are expanding their benefits packages to include fertility supports. And so where does the GNWT stand on fertility benefits for their staff? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 113)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my next question for the Minister: is Health and Social Services doing any work right now to explore expanding the financial supports for fertility treatment that they do provide to NWT residents? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 113)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

Given infertility is designated as a chronic illness, does the GNWT intend to recognize it as a medical condition and offer financial supports to residents? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 113)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, has the GNWT explored the projected costs of expanding fertility treatment supports to employees? And so the GNWT definitely has a very generous leave package for parents and for people who are going through any type of medical needs, but I'm wondering about the fertility treatment itself. Thank you.