Statements in Debates

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 82)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my statement earlier, my questions are directed to the Minister of Education. My first question, Mr. Speaker, is: my constituents are concerned about the low student achievements in the Sahtu. Indigenous government leaders in the region are interested in working more closely with ECE and other education bodies towards improving education achievement and outcomes. What is the department willing to commit to in regards to engaging with local leadership on the direction of education in the region? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 82)

Mr. Speaker, just this past month, I came together with the Sahtu leadership in the beautiful community of Deline to discuss the delivery of education in our region and benefitted from the work of my esteemed colleague from the Deh Cho riding, Mr. Nadli, in this area. Through these discussions and many others, I have greater appreciation of the challenges we face and will have questions for the Minister responsible later. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 82)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, in general comments to the bill here, my colleague here from Kam Lake had mentioned what the government can do here. What we have been suggested by various reports is to reform our regulatory system to make it more certain and more flexible. However, that is our job, to legislate the balance of what is certain. Keeping this community or this territory to move up into the attractive world of a climate for investment is exactly what we are doing. When I ask, when I see revenues outside of our TFF, I look at industry's presence for that shortfall, and the longer we can...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 82)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the response from the Minister. This leads me to my last question. We did a number of consultations these past summer months, in particular, a conference forum we had with the leadership of the Sahtu and Deline, at which time, we had learned a number of weaknesses and gaps in the current delivery system.

Recognizing those weaknesses or needs for improvement, will the Minister commit to issuing a letter or issuing a suggestion in a transitional report from the department to the 19th Assembly to have the 19th Assembly revisit the reform of the Education Act so it...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 82)

Thanks to the Minister for the answer, assurances of collaboration and partnership and working together, which leads me to my next question: I am aware of the education initiatives which are in place to support student achievements. Yet, one measurable, graduation rates, continue to be lower than other parts of the jurisdiction of Canada. Is it possible to conduct a review of education in the Sahtu to better understand what is needed to support our students and families?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 82)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rule 75(1) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly provides that a bill referred to a standing committee "shall not be proceeded with until the Assembly receives the report of the committee or 120 calendar days pass from the day the bill was given second reading." Convention provides that, should the 120-day period expire while the House is not sitting, committee must report the bill on the first day of the next sitting of the Legislative Assembly.

On June 5, 2019, the Finance Minister made a statement in the Legislative Assembly advising that the GNWT now intended to...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 82)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the course of this government, I have had ongoing concerns about the education system in general and specifically about the quality of education delivered in our communities I am here to serve. I believe strongly that a solid education system is the necessary foundation required to move our youth forward and to provide our labour market with the workers it needs to fill new positions and complete succession planning that result in more northern people in northern jobs.

Mr. Speaker, we are obligated, both in a fiduciary sense and a moral one, to ensure that all youth...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 82)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To this motion here, I am of the opinion that, if you are going to make an attractive investment environment for players such as the oil and gas community, which have 100 times more the budget that we operate in 12 months, you are going to have to make it regulatorily attractive. Yet, on the hand of balance, ensuring that there is protection for our pristine environment and having experienced many projects within this sector, I am of the opinion that it is not only in our best interest that the developer acknowledges the terms and conditions of the licence issued as well...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 82)

Thanks to the Minster for the response. My third question is: what actions are temporarily being done for the department to transition education or improvements, recognizing the gaps to the 19th Assembly?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 81)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I agree with the statements and comments made by the Member from Kam Lake, in short. Thank you, Mr. Chair.