Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have more questions for the Minister of Education on small community employment rates. Mr. Speaker, the $3 million that the Minister spoke of earlier has the potential of decreasing or increasing employment rates in small communities by a certain percentage; it is maybe 5 or 6 per cent. Is the Minister aware of what the potential is for the $3 million? If it is spent in the small communities, what will it do for the employment rates in small communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned, one of the mandates of this government is to increase employment rates, close the skill gaps throughout the Northwest Territories, and obviously $3 million in employment in small communities would be significant. We would see a lot of businesses that would train locals, as well as a focus on skill development, and create employment. As you go back through the history, the Small Community Employment Program with the funding that we had in previous years was not fully utilized. With the increase influx that we have gotten, I think we will continue to support the small communities, but, looking at enhancements, we want to make sure that the communities that did take a hit with the economy also got supports.
Mr. Speaker, I was wondering if the Minister is aware that the employment rates in the NWT run 6 to 10 per cent higher than the rest of Canada.
Yes. Employment rates go up as the communities get smaller and, in some regions, we have seen where employment was thriving at one point and now it is, I will not say diminished, but slowed down by a lot. We want to make sure that we allow our residents, our Northerners, the opportunity to get the training, get employment, as well as increase skill development.
Mr. Speaker, I was wondering if the Minister is aware that the small communities are represented by about 90 per cent Indigenous people.
Yes, I am well aware of that. We also have to understand that this program itself is applicationbased, so we work with our partners to ensure that they can put in an application and get that funding through the application process.
Oral questions. Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was wondering if the Minister is aware that the employment rate for Indigenous people is 54 per cent in the Northwest Territories and 80 per cent for nonIndigenous people.
Yes, I am well aware of that. That is why we are making some of the initiatives, strategies, investments, to address those issues. The Small Community Employment Support Program is one way we are doing that. Our enhanced Student Financial Assistance so people can get the training that they need to so that they can enter the workforce, our labour market contracts that we have with the federal government to address some of those labour market needs, as well, there are many areas that we are doing to try to address these concerns. We are working as a government to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
