Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister of Education, Culture and Employment
The Honourable Caitlin Cleveland was first elected in the 19th Assembly as the MLA for Kam Lake in 2019, and has served as the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, and Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment since 2023 after being acclaimed to the 20th Assembly.
In addition to owning and operating a northern business for over 20 years, Minister Cleveland worked in a variety of communications and policy roles in both the public and private sectors before entering politics.
Between 2019 to 2023, she chaired the Standing Committee on Social Development, fulfilling a goal to be a part of the discussions and decisions affecting social programs in the Northwest Territories. Her noteworthy work on the Committee included guiding the considerable review and input into recommendations on housing in the NWT, suicide prevention, and improvements to caring for children in care and building supported families.
Within the scope of her portfolios, Minister Cleveland is focused on helping children grow into successful NWT residents that recognize opportunities and develop successful careers that contribute to a growing economy. She advocates for new approaches to sector diversification and innovation, and ensures the North is welcoming both skilled foreign workers and investment in the critical mineral resources across the territory. She persistently explores solutions for efficient and equitable access to programs and services, upholding a shared vision of an NWT where people are supported in the ways they wish to live, work, and grow.
Minister Cleveland is a lifelong resident of Yellowknife where she lives with her husband and their three children.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, about 53 percent of our visitors to our parks annually are non-NWT residents but that means that 47 percent are NWT residents that use our parks. In the case of this, we do end up with a lot of information about people camping on the side of the road and using those spaces. A lot of those people we know are Northerners as well, and so this is targeting both residents and non-residents. Thank you.
Debates of
, 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 35)
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, on this particular project, the original budget was $4.2 million over a three-year time period and throughout the project, because of different delays, it was readjusted to a budget of $3.7 million over five years. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'm going to start my statement in Dene Kede.
[Translation] Mr. Speaker, education is rooted in place and culture and cannot be nurtured in isolation. As guiding place of legislation from our junior kindergarten to grade 12 education system, it is Education Act includes voices and perspective Indigenous government and our education partners. If -- respect of other and our education partners. The 20th legislation will be -- will mark the first time GNWT codevelops legislation social policy with Indigenous government through Northwest...
Debates of
, 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 35)
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I don't have that information on hand at this time, but -- yes, I don't have that information on hand at this time. Thank you.
Debates of
, 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 35)
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I can definitely share that the mayor has not raised concerns about this particular project to me but certainly this project's lifetime predates my time in this seat, and so with your permission, Mr. Chair, through yourself, I'd like to pass it to the deputy minister.
Debates of
, 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 35)
Thank you so much. So there is a carryover amount of $50,000, and that amount would need to be completed before the $315,000 can be spent.
Debates of
, 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 35)
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Member is right, this project is 100 percent funded by the Canada Infrastructure Program and we, at this time, are not optimistic that this funding is going to be able to roll into another project in this year but certainly, when I kind of have all of these pieces brought together, I would be very happy to update the House on the current status of this project once we get to that decision-making.
Debates of
, 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 35)
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I would like to pass to the deputy minister for first crack at that one. Thank you.
Debates of
, 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 35)
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, that is dollars that would have been allocated in a previous capital budget. However, because of evacuation, we did have some carryovers happen so that that will be carried over into this coming capital season. Thank you.
Debates of
, 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 35)
Thank you, Mr. Chair. And absolutely agree with the Member that it is certainly a location that is frequented by multiple residents of Yellowknife.
Currently, we don't have a final decision on this property. I wanted to be very transparent with this House as to where this project stands. We're continuing to work with ECC and Infrastructure on that decision, and as soon as I do have further information from both departments and am able to work towards a decision and have one and have further information for the House, I'd be happy to share it.
