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, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, the investment strategy really is a whole-of-government approach in order to really increase the size of our pie. So it is attracting third party investment from outside the territory to the Northwest Territories and is really looking to, one, build our opportunities, so both for new and emerging sectors here in the Northwest Territories, grow existing sectors, and also connect the rest of the world to the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't want elders to leave their home communities either. If we removed the income threshold for all elders, all seniors across the Northwest Territories, we would have people that would -- that had large pensions that were able to access the program. And so that's why we have the program that is new to this Assembly, is the income assistance for seniors and persons with disabilities so that if people's monthly income is not meeting their needs that that program is where it will help them meet their monthly needs, and it will cover their full...
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are always, as a government, so not just education, culture and employment, looking for ways to incentivize employment and create opportunities. That is a priority of mine in my role with both my industry hat and my education and training hat on and so certainly for that, the Member has my commitment. As far as the shift from income assistance to something like universal basic income, that would be a very big shift for the entire Assembly, and I would want to make sure that I have the support of the entire House for a shift like that. Thank you...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm always open to new ideas. I'm also always open to ideas that really inspire and support people to -- you know, the Member mentioned opportunities to re-enter the workforce. That's why we have that reintroduction, or increase rather of earned income. I'm also looking at other mechanisms to work with very specific employers and very specific communities that are willing to look at actually bringing people on and supporting them up to thresholds as kind of a reentry and getting their first step back into the workplace or into the workplace for the first...
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, certainly the department has had the opportunity to review the Alternatives North report and definitely appreciates the insights found in it. It certainly is worth stating that in the last little bit here, income assistance has increased its investment in its programs through the income security programs by $5 million as well. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, an investment like this, like a pilot, would require approval of significant dollars that would have to first be approved in this House. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I agree with the Member that this is of the utmost importance. And there is a lot of multi generations living in one home, and it's important to note that the seniors' home heating subsidy considers the income of only the senior. It doesn't consider the household income and everyone else that may be in the home as well so that it doesn't disincentivize people from living with their family members. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today is National Girls and Women in Sports Day. When girls play sports, they're not just chasing a ball, crossing a finish line, or scoring a goal. They're chasing dreams, climbing over barriers, and scoring victories that last a lifetime. Sports teach courage, discipline, and the unshakable belief that no challenge is too big. These lessons are life changing. Every sprint, every jump, every game builds confidence, grit, and leadership, qualities that carry them far beyond the field and take a lifelong outlook from "I can't" to "I can" and "I will."
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the answer is yes, but it's certainly the type of information that's gathered varies by both age and purpose and we don't have a single territory-wide number. It's worth noting that the territory's currently in the process of transitioning to the BC curriculum, and there will be consistent literacy and numeracy testing and assessment -- graduation assessments that are done as part of that. So those will be done in grade 4, grade 7, grade 10, and grade 12. And because of the change in regulations that affords for more information sharing to the department, we'll be in...
