Debates of June 6, 2024 (day 22)

June
6
2024
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
22
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay Macdonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Yakeleya
Assembly Members
Topics
Committee Motion 15-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous Leadership, Carried
Committee Motion 16-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Cultural Safety Programming or Training, Carried
Committee Motion 17-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Training Specific to Missing Persons Act, Carried
Committee Motion 18-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Annual Reporting of Statistical Information, Carried
Committee Motion 19-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Titling Bills, Carried
Committee Motion 20-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Sixties Scoop, Carried
Committee Motion 21-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Records Retention and Destruction, Carried
Committee Motion 22-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Persons Not Wanting to be Located, Carried
Committee Motion 23-20(1): Committee Report 2-20(1) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 2: Missing Persons Act – Government Response, Carried
Committee Motion 24-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates, Deferral of Department – Infrastructure, Carried
Committee Motion 25-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates, Deferral of Department – Finance Carried
Committee Motion 26-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates, Deferral of Borrowing Plan for the Government Reporting Entity and Established Borrowing Limits for the Government of the Northwest Territories, Carried
Committee Report 3-20(1): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2022-2023 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Information and Privacy Commissioner
Committee Report 4-20(1): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2022-2023 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Lanuages Commissioner
Committee Report 5-20(1): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2022-2023 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission
Committee Report 6-20(1): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2022-2023 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Ombud and Special Report on Recommendations for Amendments to the Ombud Act
Member’s Statement 250-20(1): Blood Cancer Services
Member’s Statement 251-20(1): Congratulations to Graduates
Member’s Statement 252-20(1): Food Mail Program
Member’s Statement 253-20(1): School Attendance
Member’s Statement 254-20(1): Life Promotion and Harm Reduction Youth Conference in Tulita
Member’s Statement 255-20(1): Renewable Diesel
Member’s Statement 256-20(1): Innovation in Housing
Member’s Statement 257-20(1): Happy Birthday to jackson Bowden
Member’s Statement 258-20(1): Retirement of Corinne Sassie
Member’s Statement 259-20(1): Nutrition North Program
Minister’s Statement 46-20(1): 80th Anniversary of D-Day
Minister’s Statement 47-20(1): Strengthening GNWT Supports for NWT Artists
Minister’s Statement 48-20(1): Update on Key Strategic Infrastructure Projects
Motion 31-20(1): Cross-Border Crime Reduction Forum, Carried
Motion 33-20(1): Municipal Funding Gap
Question 251-20(1): Blood Cancer Services
Question 252-20(1): Renewable Diesel
Question 253-20(1): Future of Rockhill Property
Question 254-20(1): High Cost of Food in Northwest Territories
Question 255-20(1): Youth Support Funding Sources
Question 256-20(1): Nutrition North Program
Question 257-20(1): Attendance Rates in Small Communities
Question 258-20(1): Basic Income
Question 259-20(1): Fee Holiday for Dwellings in Communities
Recorded Vote
Tabled Document 112-20(1): Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 163-20(1): Supports Available for Residents of Enterprise
Statements

Member’s Statement 253-20(1): School Attendance

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'll do this in Tlicho for the intro.

[Translation] 62@9:30

[Translation Ends]

Mr. Speaker, June is the month of high school graduations. On behalf of the Tlicho region, I want to congratulate all students graduating high school, especially those graduating from Chief Jimmy Bruneau school in Edzo, Mezi Community School in Whati, and Jean Wetrade School in Gameti.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that in general, all youth who graduate high school likely had good attendance throughout their schooling. It is sad that our territorial budget for some schools is decreasing due to low attendance rate. We had this attendance issue before COVID. We know that many families are still dealing with the trauma from residential school. Some hesitate to send their children to school. To overcome this fear, our government and school system must break free in colonialism and move forward. We were forced; now it is our choice.

Mr. Speaker, the only job for young people is to be in school, learn new things every day, and work hard to pass and move to the next level. With good attendance, there are many opportunities for people. With good attendance, a child can learn to read by grade 2 or earlier. But in the NWT, especially small communities, the literacy statistics are not good. This is at least partially due to poor attendance.

Mr. Speaker, we have good schools and staff in the NWT who work hard for students to achieve. Teachers are invaluable with special skills to teach youth every day. Elementary school gets young people ready for junior high. Junior high gets them ready for high school. And after high school, it's about growing and experiencing

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Member from Monfwi, your time is up.

Can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement? Thank you.

Life after high school is a choice young people must make, whether to pursue higher education, training, work, living life off the grid, or to travel, but travelling requires money to pay for the trips.

Mr. Speaker, according to the statistics, between 2017 to 2021, small community attendance rates for grade 9 dropped by 10 point from 79 to 69, an even bigger decline is between 2012 to 2021 where small community attendance rate for grade 6 dropped by 21 points from 89 to 68 percent. That is an alarming rate. These are extremely trouble

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Member from Monfwi, your time is up.

I will have questions for the Minister of ECE.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you. Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Member from the Sahtu.