Caitlin Cleveland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, equitable access to sport is fundamental to creating inclusive communities where everyone can experience the physical, social, and mental health benefits of athletic participation. Barriers like cost, equipment, and lack of safe spaces prevent many from participating, particularly affecting low-income communities, people with disabilities, and marginalized groups. Sport creates safe spaces when people find the right spaces, and a new volunteer-led organization is working to do just that.

Northwest Territories Equitable Sport Access, affectionately referred...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, let me be clear from the outset I do not believe in censorship or anything that stifles anyone's ability to speak truth to power, but I do believe in the need for responsible leadership.

Before the last election, I sat down with a dozen people considering running for MLA. I was excited with their ideas, leadership, and professional experience, reputation, and what they would bring to the job. But the majority chose not to run. The most common reason, they said they had too much to lose. The social cost of politics had become too great, driven largely by the...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do want to fix this issue. I do think that it is an equity issue. And I don't have an answer for the Member right now other than the fact that I am live to this issue. Currently, the program says that people must be employed at the time that they apply, and so I have committed on the floor of this House that I'm currently reviewing that and seeing what parameters we can push this to within the program. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this certainly is part of what I'm travelling to Ottawa to advocate for but while the Government of Canada holds exclusive responsibility for things like work permits, I would not be able to guarantee that without an agreement with the federal government. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment will be working with all stakeholders, redesigning that program over the summer and the fall of this year, and working with businesses, working with advocates, working with Canadian newcomers who want to be part of the program and are part of the program. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, drinking water is routinely tested in communities throughout the territory. This project was done as a pilot to test drinking water from the school sources, and so this is the first time this work has been done.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, so some of this has to do with the change that's recently occurred within Aurora College where students would be able to be supported to take learning in a digitally and online environment but supported with wraparound services through Aurora College.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, later on this week, I have the honour of having conversations with my colleagues on the other side of the House in regards to some upcoming suggested approaches to adult learning and basic education for the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, some of this work has recently just happened where Aurora College is transitioning a lot of their programs online in recognition that a lot of students do want to stay in their home community when they are pursuing some education so that they have those home supports as well and understanding that not every city or every place is where students want to go.

In addition to the college access program and the occupations and college access program at Aurora College and their online offerings, there's also the University of Alberta's transition year...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have to start off by saying I share the Member's frustration and the community's frustration on this one very much. Mr. Speaker, we were anticipating shipping of these units this previous winter road season. We had worked diligently with the Department of Infrastructure and the company to get this done and were then advised in February of 2025 that the contractor's transportation company would no longer be able to deliver the units during that winter road season, the one that we have just, just passed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are redesigning the program for 2026, but we do need the federal government's permission to be able to extend work permits. Thank you.