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 21)

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Just in speaking with businesses from my constituency, I understand that sometimes a lot of contracts are, yes, awarded to northern businesses, but the employment doesn't necessarily stick behind. Do you guys have a breakdown of, even though 87 percent of contracts went to northern businesses, how much of the dollars or employment actually stayed in the North for that percentage? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 21)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question was in regard to the territorial financing formula, and also the borrowing limit. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 21)

I'd like to start off first by congratulating the GNWT on its Emerging Wisely document. It was well-prepared and well-communicated to the public. The document sets out for residents what they need to do to move from the lockdown phase, and to loosening of restrictions, and being able to interact again with their loved ones. I believe that, to accompany this document, we need an economic recovery plan that identifies the financial supports and programs the GNWT intends to put in place to combat COVID-19, or as businesses attempt to combat COVID-19. My question for the Premier is: what does she...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 21)

Mr. Speaker, I am thankful to Doctors Kandola and Cook and their teams, who have worked tirelessly to keep Northerners safe, but the last 10 weeks have taken their toll. My constituents are suffering. Businesses were told to closed, consumers asked to stop consuming, and people were required to distance themselves.

I am grateful for the messaging urging people to stay home, stay connected, and that we are all in this together. However, while we are all in the same storm, we are not in the same boat. Some have faced this pandemic alone. Some have struggled to provide for their families through...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 21)

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I noticed here in the description of this, as well, it talks about how this is where we would talk about federal funding agreements. Right now, we have on our list of priorities three fairly hefty strategic infrastructure projects. I know that you have been working quite hard with the federal government to secure funding for those, but what if the federal government turns around and says to us, "We'll do 75-25 for all three of those"? How does the Department of Infrastructure plan to fund those or to choose which one goes forward? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 21)

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. First off, I am very happy to see the allotment for Students Against Drinking and Driving. I appreciate that line item. Thank you very much. I am wondering if the Minister can please speak to the line item for strategic infrastructure that seems to vary quite a bit from year to year. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 21)

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. In addition, another thing I would be curious to know, and I understand that the Minister might not have this information handy, is, if contracts are being broken up and then passed on to companies down south that are then bringing up workers who are actually doing the work and gaining the employment, it would be interesting to know: can we as a government actually break that work up ourselves and do a bit more project management to be able to maintain the employment actually in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 21)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On March 10th this year, I delivered a Member's statement along with oral and written questions on virtual care in the Northwest Territories. Little did I know, one week later, we would be sent home, and our healthcare system would instantly break down the barriers to delivering virtual care in the Northwest Territories. As a result, I have written questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services on the provision of virtual care in the Northwest Territories.

What solutions does the Department of Health and Social Services use to satisfy the barriers identified in...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 21)

The Premier alluded to the federal government in her response and, over the course of the pandemic, we have seen the federal government really crack open its purse. Given how close we are to our federal borrowing limit and the fact that, really, the territorial financing formula doesn't necessarily work for our territory, what can we expect to see this year to address both of those financing supports from the GNWT?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 21)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. While my colleague was asking questions of the Premier, I overheard an assumption that the mandate letters would be made public, and I'm wondering if the Premier can confirm whether she intends to make those public or not. Thank you.