Caitlin Cleveland

Member Kam Lake

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.

Kam Lake Electoral District

Committees

Board of Management
Caitlin Cleveland
Kam Lake
Constituency Office
Email
Email
Website
https://mla-kamlake.ca
Phone
867-446-1154
Minister's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Phone
867-767-9141
Extension
11124

Statements in Debates

Question 331-19(2): Family Reunification During COVID-19 Pandemic
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 31)

Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. Though I appreciate that, I know that a lot of GNWT employees were redeployed to help out Protect NWT, and I definitely appreciate that they volunteered for that. I'm wondering, given that there is such a desire for people to find out more information about this, if the Department of Health and Social Services is willing to put this information online so that residents can have easier access to how to go about this process. Thank you.

Question 331-19(2): Family Reunification During COVID-19 Pandemic
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 31)

One of the most common reasons that people reach out for wanting family members to come north is because of compassionate exemptions for childcare. A lot of people are still working, schools are closed, and childcare is very expensive in the Northwest Territories, and so they are looking to have family members come north to provide childcare assistance. I'm just wondering, what is the proper way for people to request these exemptions through the Department of Health and Social Services?

Question 326-19(2): Roles and Responsibilities of the Minister Responsible for Seniors
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 31)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I had a teacher in high school who still lives in town, and he used to always say to us, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." I am wondering if the Minister responsible for Seniors would be willing to commit to creating a plan, somewhat of a strategy, one would say, around seniors. Thank you.

Committee Motion 15-19(2): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 130-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 30)

Thank you for letting me double dip, Madam Chair. I'm wondering if the Minister can please provide just an outline of what recommendations they plan to be able to implement from the healthy families program for the $600,000? Thank you.

Committee Motion 15-19(2): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 130-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 30)

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. One of my questions was asked so I'm just going to keep moving down the line item to the $2.6 million for mental health and wellness counselling. I would just like confirmation if that is the child and youth care counsellors. Thank you.

Question 320-19(2): Access to Education and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 30)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the Minister's response. My last question is a bit of a broad one, but I'm curious to see how the Minister will respond. We have had a lot of opportunity to really learn from COVID over the last three months, and to ask ourselves what we would do differently. What I would like to know from the Minister is what the Department of Education, Culture and Employment was able to learn from our last three months in COVID. Looking forward to a second wave, how would ECE better support school boards for a second wave, and how would they ensure that no...

Question 320-19(2): Access to Education and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 30)

I'm happy to hear that, and I'm also happy to follow up with the Minister throughout the summer as he is able to work with the school boards. It was also brought to my attention that, in my constituency, and I am sure that this is consistent throughout the Northwest Territories, in the rush to get students set up at home, many of the schools emptied their resource and supply stashes so that children would have access to many learning items, whether it be books, markers, workbooks, anything they could get their hands on. Some kids even were able to go home with Chrome books. For the start of...

Member's Statement on Access to Education
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 30)

Mr. Speaker, our schools don't only provide traditional learning opportunities like reading and writing. Schools are where children learn to interact, and where many children depend on for food and emotional support. COVID-19 has shown us that education of our northern youth is fragile and that access to education is not equitable. When I talk about equitable access, I am talking about access to the physical resources like hardware, software, Internet, and phones needed to access and communicate with schools. However, I am also talking about the capacity of the child's home to support learning...

Committee Motion 15-19(2): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 130-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 30)

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Just one final question, I promise. The Minister mentioned that there would be now be five additional communities that this would be expanded to. What is the total number of communities that this is present in? Thank you.

Committee Motion 15-19(2): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 130-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 30)

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. My last question is just in regard to the very last line item for Alcoholics Anonymous and Wellbriety. I just want to confirm that that is program funding that is offered in all communities and not just Yellowknife.