Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my question is a follow-up on the options available for approaching funding to challenge trades and the demands in our workforce. My question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Can the Minister agree to the publication of NORTRAN as I referenced in previous correspondence and in my statement? Thank you.

Yeah, this is more of a comment, Madam Chair. Yes, I understand the challenges of our government providing health care, particularly to the smaller remote communities, but I'm just curious on the financial practices of surplus reviews from programs. I particularly look at this one here on page 206. Let's see what it is. A healthy family program, actuals came in at 292 and our mains are expected 292. So if it's remaining the same, it tells me is anybody accessing that program? If not, can we move it to -- move the funds to a more oversubscribed program? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My question is on page 206 on the northern wellness initiative. I understand it expires at the end of this fiscal year. Is there any work being done on a renewal? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm requesting, Mr. Speaker, if we can go back to point number 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery on the orders of the day paper. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to bring to the attention of the Minister during my lobby efforts, we, the Sahtu, have secured a contribution of $7,000 from industry for the publication.

My next question is, can the Minister share what supports are in place for this training readiness publication supports in terms of funding, etcetera? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Norman Wells oil field resource revenues. Mr. Speaker, the Norman Wells oil field celebrated its century anniversary in 2021. Mr. Speaker, this legacy oil field is unique in many ways within the industry. The resource is of high quality, sweet, light crude, with low viscosity and low refining costs.

Mr. Speaker, another unique view or perspective is the ownership structure. The federal government retains or owns subsurface rights and, with a joint operating agreement with Imperial Oil, retains two-thirds.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the NWT Land and Resource Devolution...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'm glad that job search is underway to assist the individuals. My second question there, Mr. Speaker, is what is the Department of ECE's position on the current learning centres' facilities or the buildings; what are the future plans of those assets? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Closure of community learning centres: Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu region, like other regions of the Northwest Territories, heard loud and clear the closures of 19 community learning centres. Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated shares this frustration.

Mr. Speaker, of this, the Sahtu region will see nine job losses. This action has created a number of issues, barriers on capacity, at a time that is critically important on workforce readiness. Mr. Speaker, I highlight two major projects on our horizon: Number 1, the Norman Wells oil field closure; Number 2, the...

Thank you to the Minister for that reply. I'm glad efforts are taken to make use of these facilities. I've been in a number of them, and they're ideal buildings for other uses.

So my last question: Will the Minister support a joint meeting between each Sahtu community leadership and the department so we can share the information updated and what the future plans are? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my questions are to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. What is the Department of ECE's preparations to retain the nine positions lost in the Sahtu because of the community learning centres' closures? Thank you.