Debates of August 23, 2007 (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, there’s been studies that have demonstrated that there is many thousands of tradesmen short across the country. Institutes of technology like SAIT and NAIT are going virtually around the clock trying to train all the apprentices that they’re trying to get into the system as we’re doing with nurses and other professions to try to meet the demand. In the Northwest Territories, we face similar restrictions and shortages. The college in Fort Smith, the trades program, unfortunately cannot deliver all the programs and all the years of a trades program that are required. There is one instructor for welding; there’s one instructor for plumbing; there’s one instructor for electrical.

Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is: Has there been a review of the requirements in order to have four years of all the trades programs offered in the Northwest Territories? Right now there are severe limitations because of student contact hours, professional development, annual leave and all these other restrictions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 190-15(6): Review Of Apprenticeship Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we’ve contracted for a review of the Apprenticeship Program in the Northwest Territories earlier this year and we’re expecting to see a draft of the report in late September. So by this fall there should be a thorough review that will be available to the new government.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 190-15(6): Review Of Apprenticeship Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s good to hear that that work is being done. This final question then to the Minister is, being as we don’t know the results, would the intention be to try to have that information be able to tie into the current business planning process that is unfolding now, as we speak, that will be ready for the 16th Assembly? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 190-15(6): Review Of Apprenticeship Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hopefully it will be done. If I remember correctly, the draft was supposed to be done by the end of September. So hopefully there won’t be issues around the review of that and I would expect it could be turned around fairly quickly into final form, which would mean that it should be ready for consideration during the business planning process.