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.
Thanks very much, Madam Chair. I am just curious; if somebody decides that they want to move to the Northwest Territories and start a business, is there any kind of rule that stipulates what kind of business they can come here to start? Thank you.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 26)
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I am definitely interested to see that, and I am definitely interested to work with the Minister on that, because I think, if we're going to put this kind of money out into the business community of the Northwest Territories, then it would be great for it to stick around and the people of the Northwest Territories to see the benefit of it.
Another concern that I have had coming out of the business community, especially right now within COVID, is that people are filling out a lot of applications right now for business supports. Some of them are to the federal...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 26)
Thank you, Madam Chair. That makes me very happy to hear because I feel like, if there is anybody who can figure out how adapt, it would be an artist.
My next question is in regard to Northern Food Development Program, like my colleague discussed, that food security is a priority of this Assembly. Food security has also been identified as something that is going to be top of mind throughout our COVID recovery. One of the things that we have seen in many communities throughout the North, Yellowknife, Hay River, Inuvik especially, is there are people who have really mastered creating businesses...
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. No. I am very thankful for the Minister for being able to have this conversation, but in order for us to be able to put our money where our mouth is, literally, and be able to show the people of the Northwest Territories that change is happening, although some of these changes do take time, will the Minister be willing to commit to providing this House with annual reports on all tender activities? Thank you.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 26)
Maybe it's a very short question. Has the Minister considered in any of their tourism discussions making Yellowknife an international airport? Thank you.
Given that we just simply don't have time to wait for the review of the Business Incentive Policy before we refocus our procurement on northern benefit, how does the Minister intend to ensure that government contracts will come with a benefit retention to Northerners?
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 26)
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Many tour operators throughout the Northwest Territories have seasonal income where they may not have had anything for the first part of the year. Really, they were waiting until right about now to open their doors and be able to start bringing in their income for their families for the entire year. Is there any type of program that ITI is thinking of putting together? Since they have put so much money into tourism in the last decade, is there any type of program they are looking at doing to help tourism operators cover their costs if they have no clientele...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 25)
Thank you very much. I think I'm crossing over to my same line of questioning as last time now, so I'm going to be careful. We talked last time about whether 87 percent went to northern companies, but did 87 percent actually end up staying in the North and benefiting northern workers? I just want to reiterate that that's my concern with that one. The definition of a northern company is a concern. Also, what is actually the benefit retention to the Northwest Territories? Thank you.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 25)
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I'm just looking at contract services under the expenditure category of regional operations. I'm wondering if the Minister can give us an idea of what type of contracts would come out of this for a main estimate type budget for regional operations? Thank you.
I appreciate that the Minister spoke to we're not quite sure what the fall will bring. We aren't sure what the fall will bring. We aren't sure what will happen with kids this fall with the second or third wave, and if kids will end up back at school, but we have heard wonderful things about the child and youth care counsellors who will be going into schools this fall. What I'm wondering is: even if our kids don't return to school, will these child and youth care counsellors still be accessible supports to the kids of the Northwest Territories?
