Statements in Debates

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 30)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although I don't see her in the House, I believe I have constituent Ariella Fox from Yellowknife Centre, and I'd like to acknowledge her officially on the record. As well as I'd like to take a brief moment, as you did, Mr. Speaker, acknowledge the Handley family. Mrs. Theresa playing hearts with her at Avens and, of course, I served with Premier Joe Handley for some good years at the House, and we did some wonderful things. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as an example of this burden falling on the school system, which is actually taking money out of the education process that it was intended for, these school boards, particularly in Yellowknife -- and I wish I could speak to the regional communities as well -- but that said they ended up hiring their own speech pathologists, and they were finding they could find them. In other words, they put out advertisements. They were getting people interested in the jobs. They've hired them. And they're funding them within. That really is education dollars for the old...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I actually couldn't hear her answer but I'm assuming maybe we could look at this again, is that what can she do as Minister to financially support the school system if the Department of Health and Social Services is no longer doing this. We have dental services -- we found ways to do things. In other words, like, for example, Inuvik does dental supports when it can. I don't even know if they've done it recently. But I've seen seen the room that they've done that to support families on the health care and the young people. So what can the Minister do to ensure that, for...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, item -- guidelines, checkbox number 5 says may create a process. So in other words, you don't have to have a process. We could have the political courage and excitement to do the right thing, Mr. Speaker. So I'm asking the Minister if she doesn't want to be the champion today -- that gives you a little bit of room -- maybe she could highlight before this House what process she speaketh of. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 29)

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I'm not -- I'm familiar with the mandate online but I'm more referring to the mandate letter specifically, just to be clear. So in my view, they're two things but if they're the same thing at the end of the day, then I'll let the Minister clarify.

My last question, just very quickly, Mr. Speaker, is will the Minister be willing to table her mandate letter to the college before the House for transparency and table it in a method that it can be consumed by the public for everyone to fully appreciate what direction and support they're getting from the Department of...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can appreciate it's status quo, you know, as in the -- they're using inertia to move forward, but the fact is that we're concerned about the direction, the firm and clear direction of the mandate letter to give them the direction and plan and commitment to do the transition from a college to a polytech. Can the Minister confirm in the House today that it will be absolutely crystal clear that the transition into a polytech is part of the moving forward mandate letter? Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to use my Member's statement to come back to some of the matters raised by me and other Members, of course, in the June session.

Mr. Speaker, many of us had some excitement coming into the election almost a year ago and about where the Aurora College was going in the context of transition to a polytech. And, of course, it wasn't until after being elected sometimes when you find out what really is happening behind the scenes that you find out actually that they're still working on the transition plan but the transition plan isn't funded and things they...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I heard that response loud and clear and I also had the earpiece. That's said, what has been done to date? Because I was speaking to the school boards and their concerns about how much resources they're dedicating to address these particular needs in these students. So what's being done to date and how long has this been going on? The Minister has been Minister for a year, so she must be aware of how we're trying to address the current problem. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It must be the air conditioning in here, Mr. Speaker, or the sound of the air moving. It's hard to hear some days or sometimes today. Mr. Speaker, I was going to leave on a positive note but I'll make a list the good but not bad. The next question will be back to the Minister of education regarding supports for students. It's not terrible, but I'd like to hear what the Minister says -- the issue's terrible but not the questions per se.

We were recently at a meeting with both school boards. And I know this applies to all school boards. This is not news to me, I know it's...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Very excited. Mr. Speaker. It would be nice to end today -- well, we're not ending today per se, but, you know, work towards the end of today on a positive note. And the reason I'm bringing this up, in my Member's statement yesterday I talked about the naming of the Whitford building, Mr. Speaker. And there's not a specific guideline through the EIA or housing that says how do we need name buildings that are non-office buildings, but let's follow the office building process and protocol. And section number 5, Cabinet may approve a public engagement process, so may, to...