Shauna Morgan

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I appreciate the questions and comments from my colleagues on postsecondary education, so I will pick up the baton here and focus on JK to 12 education.

So we see some significant reductions in JK to 12 education system services and student services. System services is reduced by about 25 percent actually both are, and student services. And then we see reductions in contributions to education authorities.

So my question is how will this affect students on the ground at the end of the day? And just to back up for a sec, I just want to point out, so earlier there was...

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So if I understand that correctly, that would mean, though, that we would need new infrastructure built along with that $7 million for new operating funding if we were to realize if we were to meet the need that you're talking about? So I understand the feds have just announced, you know, this funding for infrastructure but obviously that would need to be figured out and built, or can you clarify whether we have existing infrastructure that if we had the $7 million we could, you know, hire people and put those programs in place sooner? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And just briefly here, I want to thank the Member for Tu NedheWiilideh for bringing this forward. I think it really aligns with the Assembly's priorities and some of the intentions stated in the business plan, and I just wanted to bring up those.

So something that was pointed out by one of my colleagues, as we discussed this, that I think is a good thing to consider as we move forward with trying to get more, you know, home inspections, really understand the need for housing repair and maintenance and take that to the federal government, but was she was saying that the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I just have a quick question for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. So I mentioned in my Member's statement today that there is a local resident in my riding who is trying to get together or pull together a community art project to paint some murals on public housing units that are boarded up and the department of housing has been super helpful in providing the boards and logistics, and I am wondering if the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment might have any ideas for funding that could help get this project off the ground, just some small...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So my understanding is that this is meant to be a pilot project, which implies that it's time limited, so how long is this pilot project intended to last? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the trades and occupations wage subsidy I'm reading here, that provides financial assistance to employers to hire Northerners with little or no work experience and support that individual to progress through apprenticeship. If we're not getting this program fully subscribed, it seems like there should be a big need for this kind of thing. Does the Minister believe that there is more we can do to, you know, try to recruit employers, try to promote this program more, or are we going about it the wrong way? It seems likes this is one of the key goals to achieve our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So my questions today deal with housing, but I'll direct them to the Minister of health and social services as they relate to a program that is split between the two departments. So there are really encouraging plans to develop a transitional housing program for those returning for addictions treatment, and the pilot will involve one in Inuvik and one in Yellowknife. So does the Minister know, first, how many spot are needed in Yellowknife as in how many folks in Yellowknife do we generally have at any given time who are returning from treatment and need somewhere to...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And so my understanding is that we have an action plan, the Skills 4 Success Action Plan, that is supposed to go from 2021 to 2025. So are we able to continue on with that action plan and accomplishing the goals that we've set for ourselves without any funding in that line item this year? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during a time of fiscal restraint it's easy to few arts as an extra, a nice to have when times are good but a budget line that should be cut when we're tightening our belts. Mr. Speaker, I think it's time we stopped viewing arts as simply a budget line. It doesn't need to be something that's separate from our real priorities, like education, economy, health care, housing. It can be a way of doing things and a way of approaching problems with more creativity, more humanity, more connection.

Art is more than something that professionals do on stage when they...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And so were these reductions done in consultation with education authorities or based on recommendations from those education authorities or I understand some of these are with you know, solely within ECE, but there may be impacts on education authorities and the work that they do. So can the Minister speak to any consultation that was done there or recommendations from the authorities?