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, like I said I can certainly work with the Minister of health and social services. These are very important things that we're talking about. Access to therapeutic services is critical for access to education. But, you know, I'm not going to stand here and take over the mandate of health and social services because it's not fair to our education bodies, it's not fair to our teachers. They're not clinicians, and they are not able to take this on, neither are the education bodies. So I'm very keen to work with health and social services on this one...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm certainly using all of the tools that I have at my disposal. Currently, at the end of September, I met with the board to actually sit down and hear what their priorities are, what their concerns are, how their year in operation has gone, and to sit down and figure out, okay, where do we align and ensure that we align on the transformation of Aurora College. They have informed me that they are certainly committed to this and that they want to be able to continue to work closely together on this collaborative process and to continue to meet regularly...
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, industry has been very candid and transparent on this one. Their number one ask and barrier for investment attraction is clean energy. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have said it in this House before, I've said it to the board of governors before, I am absolutely committed to this transition. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've had the opportunity to see some of the results of some of the efforts of diamond mines. Reo Tinto is a great example. They have -- as my colleague, the Minister of Infrastructure spoke to, they have their wind and solar farms that they use up at site. And I know that this is certainly not only a focus of theirs but a focus of multiple mining operations. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It is always a red flag whether we miss any deadline whatsoever. It is always a red flag. We make deadlines which are commitments to the people of the Northwest Territories and the public. That is definitely a concern of mine. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, temporary measures that the Yukon joined allows the Yukon nominee program to support the extension of work permits for applicants in their assessment queue that they currently have and who have work permits that expire in 2024. One of the things that we did here in the territory is that we prioritized those applications in 2024 and expect to be able to work our way through them in this calendar year. So the Government of the Northwest Territories did look at the option and opt in program that Yukon is currently partaking in but decided that...
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, every moment that I have had the opportunity to spend in the Tlicho region has been nothing short of incredibly rewarding. I appreciate the time that the Member has invited me and I have gone, and I would absolutely love to accept. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd love the opportunity to sit down and discuss in great lengths and details why the differences exist for small communities. There's often been differences that exist between our cities, our regional centres, and our small communities, and the efforts that are at play here in order to increase the equity between them. It exists in the programs that I have laid out here and in the increased supports. So one of those increased supports as well is affording training to classroom assistants to ensure that in small communities the people who are on...
Mr. Speaker, when we talk about education, we often talk about meeting students where they are at. This means providing resources to students at every stage in developing their knowledge, skills and attitudes. Mr. Speaker, this philosophy does not end when someone leaves school. That is why the Government of the Northwest Territories offers programs for every skill level at every career stage: From planning to enter the workforce, to upskilling for a new job, to starting a new business. With the average Canadian working 15 jobs in their lifetime, this means there are ample opportunities to all...
