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.
Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Minister of Industry, Tourism, and Investment
Statements in Debates
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 6)
Thank you, Madam Chair. During my time here with the 19th Legislative Assembly, I've had the opportunity to get to know a lot of the Members who sit around this room, and, although I grew up in the North and felt I had a very good understanding of everything that happened in the North, I've learned that I learn something new every day from my colleagues here. So my question would be: how does the GNWT intend to work with people from the regions to decide what powers need to be devolved to the regions and how they're going to do that in a meaningful way? Thank you.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 6)
Thank you. I think I am good at this time.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 6)
Thank you, Madam Chair. My first question in regards to these 100 units is: how do you intend to ensure that the construction work done on these units is actually going to go to northern employers? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have created an arm's-length corporation to enable housing to be more flexible. My question for the housing Minister is: how will the Minister make sure that deep and transformative innovation are part of the everyday work of the Housing Corporation? Thank you.
Thank you for that. If there are policies guiding the use of T4 slips as proof of income, I have not had any success at finding them online as of yet. What policy guidance governs the local housing authorities, and will the Housing Corporation commit to making their policies easily accessible online?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Among my takeaways from last night's technical briefing on the new Stanton hospital territorial review. First, the cost of healthcare will go up. Through P3 contract adjustments for rising input costs such as labour, material, energy, technology, regulation, and expectations, the cost will go up, and both government and Northerners will be forced to pay. Second, our healthcare systems are becoming more vulnerable. A reverse slope in a pipe can lead to a sewage backup that can shut down parts of the facility. In anticipation of something like coronavirus in China or...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 6)
Thank you, Madam Chair. I look forward to watching the development of this mentorship program. I think that mentorship is a huge opportunity in the North, especially for people who do want to get into business, but I think that business ownership is far more than being very skilled at a trade. There is an element of being fiscally responsible that is very important, especially when we are supporting people through business development, through SEED money, or anything like that. I think it would be prudent that we make sure that we are setting people up to the best of their ability. Thank you.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 6)
Thank you, Madam Chair. I see here that there is a spot for training provided to make sure that communities are well prepared to take on the decision-making authorities. Will there be ongoing check-ins and ongoing support to make sure that we can keep that decision-making authority within the communities and empower them to continue on that road? Thank you.
This is a great beginning. We must work across all levels of government, all sectors and NGOs, to tell a new story of dwelling in this land. We need robust funded plans to achieve it, through integrated community land use stewardship, community renewable energy plans, housing and community wellness metrics, and reconciliation planning, with our whole social system engaged at the table, facing new issues in a new way. We need to start measuring what matters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yellowknife housing is becoming ever less affordable. How will the Minister improve the affordability of housing in Yellowknife over the course of the 19th Legislative Assembly? Thank you.
