Debates of June 11, 2024 (day 25)

June
11
2024
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
25
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay Macdonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Yakeleya
Assembly Members
Topics
Acknowledgement 6-20(1): Colville Lake School Graduates
Bill 7: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act 2024
Bill 8: An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act
Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Committee Motion 32-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Housing Northwest Territories – Deferral of Housing Northwest Territories, Carried
Committee Report 7-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the 2022-2023 Public Accounts
Committee Report 8-20(1): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on Committee’s Initiation of a Project to Conduct a Review of the Land and Water Permitting Regulatory Framework
Member’s Statement 281-20(1): Inuvik Petroleum Show
Member’s Statement 282-20(1): Change of Name Act
Member’s Statement 283-20(1): Sahtu Graduation Season
Member’s Statement 284-20(1): Changes to Student Financial Assistance Offerings for Indigenous STudents
Member’s Statement 285-20(1): Emergency Shelters
Member’s Statement 286-20(1): Folk on the Rocks
Member’s Statement 287-20(1): Solutions for Education for Indigenous Students
Member’s Statement 288-20(1): Mental health
Member’s Statement 289-20(1): Supports for Autism
Member’s Statement 290-20(1): Frank Gruben Pride Festival
Member’s Statement 291-20(1): Laura Gareau Retirement
Minister’s Statement 54-20(1): Funding Opportunities for Mental Wellness and Addictions Recovery Programs
Motion 36-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Tabled Document 118-20(1)
Motion 37-20(1): Mackenzie Valley Highway Business Case Renewal
Motion 38-20(1): Consideration for the Hamlet of Enterprise to Receive Top-Up Funding
Motion 39-20(1): Extended Adjournment of the House to October 17, 2024
Question 279-20(1): Autism Supports
Question 280-20(1): Applying for a Name Change
Question 281-20(1): Meeting Shelter Needs in Yellowknife
Question 282-20(1): Chief Jimmy Bruneau School and Residential School System
Question 283-20(1): Solutions for Education for Indigenous Students
Question 284-20(1): Mental Health Training
Question 285-20(1): Strategic Educational Planning for Sahtu
Question 286-20(1): Incident Command System for Emergencies
Tabled Document 121-20(1): Letter dated January 30, 2024 from the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to Alternatives North regarding Public Participation in a Regional Study under part 5.2 of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act
Statements

Member’s Statement 284-20(1): Changes to Student Financial Assistance Offerings for Indigenous STudents

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the good work done in the last Assembly by the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, who is now the Honorable Premier. In the 19th Assembly, the Minister of ECE made changes to the Student Financial Assistance program where the 12-semester limit, or $60,000 cap on funding, was removed for Indigenous students. Mr. Speaker, this is an incredible offering to the Indigenous students of the NWT. This support makes education more accessible and equitable.

Mr. Speaker, we know the education outcomes of Indigenous people in the NWT are well below nonIndigenous. NonIndigenous students graduate high school at a rate of 70 to 80 percent but Indigenous students are graduating at only a rate of 40 to 50 percent. The graduation rate is higher in Yellowknife than anywhere else in the NWT, although graduation rates in the regional centres are close behind. Mr. Speaker, clearly students in small communities are disadvantaged and require extra services and support to achieve equity in education.

Mr. Speaker, education is a treaty right, and providing this unlimited SFA support truly means that Indigenous students can have a dream and now have the means to achieve the knowledge which can make those dreams reality. A lot of students in small communities can now use SFA to upgrade after high school so they can get into college or university and feel comfortable and ready for postsecondary education. Without a cap or limit on the amount of funding they can access, students in small communities are set up for success. Now Indigenous students can access SFA for the things they need to do, whether it be upgrading or pursuing the highest level of education they can dream of. Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Speaker, this government has a major task to improve education outcomes in the NWT, but there have been good actions taken along the way. I want to acknowledge and thank the Minister of ECE from the 19th Assembly for changes in policy to support Indigenous students, most especially those in small communities. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.