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 78)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Sorry, Mr. Speaker. We all want to be here today, so there you go.

Mr. Speaker, your Standing Committee on Social Development is pleased to provide its Report on Housing Phase One: Needs for NWT Homeowners and Private Landlords, and commends it to the House.

The Standing Committee on Social Development is pleased to provide a report on the first phase of their housing review, examining issues affecting homeowners and landlords. The review shines a light on the longstanding housing policy issues that have remained unsolved over decades, as well as the growing...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 77)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, June 3rd, 2021, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that the following guidelines are set down for the Northwest Territories Electoral Boundaries Commission, 2021:

1. The commission shall review the existing electoral districts using the most recent and accurate census and other population data available.

2. In keeping with Canadian constitutional conventions, relative parity between electoral districts shall be sought, to the extent possible, except...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 77)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just I guess a very selfless plug. Today on the NWT Birth Work Collective's Facebook page, they did advertise a course that will be taking place this summer that will be available over Zoom. And so I would like to invite all of my colleagues to share it with people within their constituencies and the cost of the course is on a sliding scale for what people can afford. So it's a wonderful opportunity.

Given the potential, Mr. Speaker, for great benefits of doula care, I'm wondering if there is a mechanism for how low income NWT residents can access...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 77)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that's great news, and I'm really excited to hear the synopsis of the evaluation from Health and Social Services. I think that's all really good news, and I think it lends well to the direction and the support that we as an Assembly would like to provide to the people of the Northwest Territories.

My next question for the department, which kind of plays off that, is does the department recognize doula services as a viable prevention tool for the people of the Northwest Territories to support healthy families? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 77)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The OAG found that ECE “took steps to plan, support, and monitor the delivery of equitable, inclusive education programs and services that reflected Indigenous languages and cultures, to support improved student outcomes. However, we concluded that these actions were insufficient for it to fully meet its commitments and obligations. Providing sufficient support in key areas, such as Indigenous language and culturebased education, and monitoring the outcomes of its education programs, is necessary to help ensure that students in the territory are being given the best...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 77)

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, June 3rd, 2021, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that the Northwest Territories Electoral Boundaries Commission, 2021, is hereby established; and further, that the Legislative Assembly recommends to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories that the Honourable Ted Richard of Sydney, British Columbia, be appointed Chairperson, and Mr. Glen Abernethy of Yellowknife, NWT, and Mr. Jack Rowe of Hay River, NWT, be appointed members of the Northwest Territories Electoral...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 77)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northern Birth Work Collective is all about accessibility. The First Nations Health Authority, the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, and the BC Ministry of Health, currently work together to provide $1000 grants for doula services for Indigenous families living in British Columbia.

To make doula care accessible in the Northwest Territories, the services needs the financial support of Health and Social Services here at home. So will Health and Social Services provide financial grants to NWT residents to support doula services?...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 77)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before I get started, one thought that came to mind of a few people over here is that we do have GSOs in communities, that we've got them in 23 of our 33 communities that might be able to provide some assistance to getting information out and helping people access funds hopefully.

But further to my statement today on doula services, I'm very excited to ask some questions to the Minister of Health and Social Services today about the NWT Birth Work Collective and the work that they're doing to make doula services more accessible in the Northwest...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 77)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this past budget session, regular Members negotiated $600,000 to implement phase 2 of the NWT Midwifery Program. While the GNWT works to expand safe options for communitybased birth, it's important that this government also consider how to expand culturallysafe traumainformed family supports. Healing our territory and supporting the health and safety of Northerners starts before a baby is born, and for some, it starts with a doula.

A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support through significant...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 76)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 25, an Act to Amend the Education Act. Bill 25 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on March 30th, 2021, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review. The standing committee held a public hearing with the Minister of Education, Culture, and Employment and completed its clausebyclause review of the bill on May 31st, 2021.

Mr. Speaker, the committee reports that Bill 25, An Act to Amend the Education Act is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank...