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.
I hope questions like that happen in Committee of the Whole for ITI next week. Thank you. My second question is: time is money, Mr. Speaker, especially when you run and own your own business. I am wondering what the average time is between receipt of an application for the Business Incentive Policy and the northern manufacturers policy and confirmation of the application, as well, for the business owner.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I've had this conversation with the Minister before, just about concerns with making sure that NWT residents are able to have the same lawyer all the way through their legal aid needs and the consistency that that provides, and so I appreciate that information. Thank you.
One of the things that the Minister referred to was making sure that she maintains fairness within the housing lists. The housing lists that are created are created on a first come, first served basis, and then people are prioritized within those lists based on their needs. I feel that, if it's based on need and it's based on first come, first served, you are still maintaining the integrity of the process, but what you're allowing people to do is to access education. You're allowing them to access healthcare. Maybe somebody has a child, and they need to come to Yellowknife in order to access...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)
Thank you, Madam Chair. The Member for Great Slave covered off much of my questions. While we are here, I am wondering if the Minister can speak to the difference of roughly a million dollars between the 2019-2020 actuals? There is about a million-dollar difference where the budget has come down, and I am wondering why the budget changed so drastically between 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 for Legal Aid Commission. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. I am wondering if the Minister will commit to removing the community residency requirement that is currently used by local housing authorities and local housing organization in communities across the Northwest Territories? Thank you.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. On page 280, there is contributions of offender reintegration. Would that be considered the after-care supports received by inmates when they are released from care? Thank you.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. One of the things that comes out of the corrections budget would be anything associated with any ways in which the Minister intends to address the concerns raised in the employee assessment done. I'm wondering, given that there isn't an increase in this budget, if the Minister feels that the concerns addressed in the employee assessment will be able to be met with the existing budget. Thank you.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 64)
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. No, that is amazing news, and that is really great. I think that opportunities for summer students and interns as well as northern hires within different areas of energy and strategic initiatives is such a commendable investment, especially when students, if they are coming back from university, if they are going to small communities, energy and strategic infrastructure initiatives is something that every community needs. Congratulations to the Department of Infrastructure for that one, and I encourage them to continue that year after year.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that the Standing Committee on Social Development report on Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Interpretation Act be received and adopted by the Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 64)
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I appreciate that clarification. My first point was that I don't know how this is going to increase as substantially as it is shown here between the 2020-2021 revised estimates and 2021-2022 when there is still a recommendation not to travel for this year. My concern is that I feel this revenue is actually quite high, given that we don't have a lot of people coming in and out of the territory. That was my concern there. I appreciate what the Minister said about the waiving of fees and such. My next question is: is there an intention of the Department of...
