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

Caitlin Cleveland
Kam Lake
Minister's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

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

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. And thank you to the Member for that clarification. So that portion there is a portion of the funding for the Indigenous languages diploma program that I spoke of earlier. That was money that was put in our budget so that we would have it for Aurora College when they came forward with their diploma program. But, unfortunately, that has not happened as of yet. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I could definitely provide a difference of definitions of the two. But the reason that I am saying that there is an intention rather than a direction is because I am reminded it is a collaborative process. I want to ensure that both of our voices are in it because we are both agreeing to something in it. But from myself, I do have an expectation that transformation is part of that mandate letter and is part of the marching kind of direction of the Aurora College as well. I think that this I agree with Members, this is a very important project. It...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department did put out a call to education bodies as a whole to ask them, you know, what would work, do you foresee a possibility to offer up some dollars from your budgets. And without any surprise, of course, the answer was no, which we a hundred percent respected because, like many members have said, you know, our foundation to our economic foundation begins with educating our youth. And so we absolutely respected that. But what the education bodies did offer up were some suggestions of where to create some savings within the department...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, Skills NWT and Skills Canada are still very much a thing in the Northwest Territories. Just this past week, students from the Northwest Territories just returned from the national competition. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I don't have the historical information on where those numbers originate from. That said, however, I am familiar with the regulations that the Member is speaking of and the concern, especially around schoolaged children and after school care, and can commit to following up with the Member in further detail on that. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I think what we've established today, by going all around the room, is that the need exists everywhere. This is not a channel that is shared only with Northwest Territories communities; it's also a challenge that's shared clear across the country. And so that's what this group is coming together to do with engagement, is to figure out, okay, how are we going to do this how are we going to see these dollars flow out the door. And the reality is as well not everybody is going to have shovelready projects available right away. So there is going to have...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. The department has asked for, in this budget, what they feel they will need. And also I hope that with the increased ability for residents to keep some of their earned income and work with client navigators as well as career development officers that hopefully we will be able to support residents to create pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, as well as education by combining our business plans with the dollars that we do have available. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the $52,000 that the Member referred to reduced a line item from $150,000 to $98,000, and that is a return of traditionally unsubscribed funding under the Indigenous languages broadcasting grant. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, no. I'm looking at the actuals from 20222023 of $139 million to the main estimates of 20242025 which are $136 million $136.6 million. So not a 25 percent reduction in attendance. I'm talking about that particular line item. If the Member would like me to give her information on additional line items, I'd be happy.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Member might be happy to know I just did meet yesterday with the CEO of Tlicho Investment Corporation. So we have a very close working relationship and are able to work in partnership with one another to find out ways that we can support one another's goals, and we definitely have some shared ones.

In addition to comments around scholarships and such, ECE definitely does support the education funding requirements for students that are entering into trades. Just like we  through a different funding pot but similar to how we support students who...