Rylund Johnson

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I was glad to see the release of the Aurora College transformation to a polytech that had a strong focus on trades and technology. That document said many of the right things but did not go as far as saying some of the specifics I would like to see. Specifically, I would like to see us build an NWT trades curriculum built and designed for the North. My question is for the Minister responsible for Aurora College. Can we develop a northern-oriented trades curriculum? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

I am glad to hear all of those initiatives. I believe the money we invest through the Arctic Energy Alliance is some of the best dollars we have out there in regard to our response to climate change. I am also glad to hear that we're on track for some of the short-term goals in this section. However, the long-term goals set out in this section are really how we're going to get and meet this target by 2030. Can I have an update of how those long-term goals are and a commitment that we are on track to meet this target?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Our 2030 Energy Strategy is one of the key documents in making sure that our government is a leader in climate change. Specifically, one of my favourite sections is Section 4 of that strategy, which commits us to increasing our share of renewable energy used for community heat to 40 percent by 2030, essentially getting more and more of our homes and communities off diesel. Can I have an update on this section, Madam Speaker, from the Minister of Infrastructure?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. What we are recommending here is the wording "access by design" because that is the wording the GNWT uses. This is really about open and transparent government. It's about proactive disclosure. I would like to thank my colleague from Frame Lake. He asked a number of questions of the Minister of Justice today about proactive disclosure. This recommendation has long come from the Information and Privacy Commissioner, largely with a lens that this ultimately saves us time and resources, saves our media headache; it saves people in departments hassles. I don't know how often...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm glad to see you in that seat today. I'd just like to speak in support of this motion. The GNWT Department of Infrastructure on our good building practices has done a lot of great work in including disability and accessibility standards. However, that work we're very much leaders on has not made it into the private sector. Presently, there is a gap in this area. There is the national building code. Builders go out, they build something, and they think it's compliant with human rights law, and it's not. That can cause a lot of frustration for people who are building...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am happy to move this motion. Throughout Assemblies, special committees are established, and they really do show the priorities of that group. I believe this committee has lots of work to do in this area, and I believe a committee comprised both of Regular Members and Cabinet can truly move this forward as a priority of this House. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. One of the other ways that we presently attract apprentices and encourage our journeypersons to take on apprentices is there is a subsidy for the first couple of years of any apprenticeship. That allows or encourages a tradesperson to take on an apprentice. However, I have heard from a number of constituents that, as that subsidy expires and it's not for their entire term, they struggle to keep on those apprentices. Then sometimes, people do not finish their ticket. Is the Minister willing to look into increasing the amount and length that we subsidize apprentices for...

I look forward to that work. I find it's truly exciting. One of the other issues that we have seen is: it has been very difficult for apprentices to find journeypersons and journeypersons to find apprentices, such that, if you are in a community and you want to be an apprentice, you often have to leave. Four years away from home can be a long time. If you are a journeyperson in that community, it can be hard to find an apprentice. However, I think some of the steps we have taken with putting Aurora College online really can be used in the future to pair journeypersons and apprentices up...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Another somewhat controversial suggestion: when I look at the Housing Corporation, I see under it, 23 authorities. Each of those authorities come with staff; they come with offices; they come with administration. My experience has been: tenants are mad at the housing authorities; the housing authority is mad at the Housing Corporation. The Minister is frustrated. This room is frustrated. It seems to be a big chain of frustration in regard to housing and a bunch of homeless people at the bottom. I really don't believe that the housing authorities are the most efficient...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Could that analysis include whether the Housing Corporation should have a board, perhaps a board of deputy ministers, even. At least then, at the DNC committee, they would argue for some more housing money. Thank you, Madam Chair.