Statements in Debates

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 27)

I want to recognize the fact that the Minister has worked hard to make sure that artists do receive both their due and financial support from this government and certainly by his department. This Arts Professions Act, which I’ll table later today, is a very small act. It basically defines what artists are, and how they’re recognized and certainly how they can be supported by the government. Again, it’s by the Government of Saskatchewan protecting Saskatchewan artists.

Does the Minister see any chance that once he has a copy of this, does he foresee any chance that perhaps he can task his...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to talk about the government and how they can support a very important part of our northern business economy, that being our NWT artists. By way of fact, approximately 18 percent of the NWT population considers themselves an artist in one form or another. That’s almost one in five, which is an amazing population in our Territory. That could be your friends, your neighbours or whoever, but when you look around, one in five is a lot of people who consider themselves in a special area.

These artists are involved in carving, sewing, needlecraft, drawing...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Menicoche.

The Auditor General expressed concern that there was no detailed territory-wide plan to improve student performance.

A key finding of the OAG’s report is the lack of improvement in student performance between the school years ending 2005 and 2008. One bright light is an increase in the number of students of secondary school graduates; however, the results on Alberta Achievement Tests and diploma examinations, and the number of students working at their functional grade levels, show little or no improvement. The OAG questioned ECE as to how this...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we have all seen quite clearly, this is an important issue. It sounds as if the Minister can appreciate that it is a significant issue for many families. The point being here is that timing is everything. We need a meeting as soon as possible. Can the Minister ensure that she will commit to having a meeting before Christmas? That way, Members will have time to get down, help source out some solutions and we can get this process moving as fast as possible. Otherwise, if we leave this open without a focus to challenge ourselves, it may sit and drag on forever. The...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 27)

Mr. Speaker, I have gotten to know many of these families and they certainly depend on this respite care very highly. It is an important break through the system. It is not a holiday. It is a way to organize their life and give them the chance to be part of a program that allows them to do more. If anyone knows anyone who has a family in this situation, although there are certainly challenges before them and my heart goes out to how hard they work to get through these things. Mr. Speaker, my question being to the Minister now, is the fact is what is the department doing to advocate further...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 27)

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister responsible for the WSCC let me know when that mandate was given and specifically what that mandate was to do? If he could clarify the instructions given specifically to the Safety Advisory Committee. Thank you.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recently asked some questions regarding the WSCC and my concerns regarding the occupational health and safety regs that are being reviewed and certainly ensuring that they will be fairly reviewed by the public, such as businesses. The Minister did respond in a good way and certainly said that he would make sure that did happen. After that, I did approach the Minister with some concerns regarding this situation with the Safety Advisory Committee. Specifically, where do they get their mandate to do this review that’s approximately 400 pages of regulations? In discussing...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about ways we can support the artists’ community in our North, and as I said, that represents one in five of our population, or I should say almost one in five of our population. Mr. Speaker, it is a considerable amount of people and I would say that they certainly deserve a certain amount of respect certainly by this government.

Saskatchewan has adopted what’s called the Arts Professions Act and what that basically does is it recognizes, supports, enshrines and protects the work that these artists do to make sure that they’re...

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to table the Arts Professions Act by the Saskatchewan government. Thank you.

Debates of , 16th Assembly, 5th Session (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to provide its Report on the Review the 2008-2009 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories and commends it to the House.

The Standing Committee on Government Operations reviewed the 2008-2009 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner at its meeting on May 19, 2010. The committee would like to thank Ms. Elaine Keenan Bengts for her report and for her appearance before the committee.

The Information and Privacy Commissioner is an independent officer of...