Statements in Debates
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled "Skills 4 Success 4-Year Action Plan 2016-2020." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As I mentioned, Aboriginal Head Start in particular is one that we've heard some concerns. Our staff has sat down with the managers and the staff on numerous occasions. We've also had the superintendents of the Beaufort-Delta Education Council work with the schools and Aboriginal Head Start to make sure that it's moving forward in a good manner and the working relationship is good.
We continue to do those consultations with Aboriginal Head Start, as well as all our other early childhood providers. As I mentioned, on August 24th we met with the Canadian Public Health Agency of Canada to inform...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's always a pleasure to see our constituents from the communities in the Chamber, here. I would like to recognize one of my constituents from Inuvik Boot Lake, Ms. Judy McLeod. Welcome. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have many programs within our department. Seniors could also get assessed under the Income Assistance Program, where they might be eligible for a full tank of fuel twice a year or a cord of wood twice a year. Those options are available for the seniors that might not qualify. But, if any seniors don't qualify, I also encourage them to do a reassessment to make sure that they're assessed properly and that they might actually make the needs. If they don't make the requirements under the Senior Home Heating Subsidy, then they can also apply under the Income Assistance...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's roughly about just over 500 every year. The more information and more awareness that we get out there to seniors in our communities, we can expect to see possibly numbers rising. As I also mentioned, we're doing a review of the Senior Home Heating Subsidy, and we're looking at thresholds, we're looking at zones, we're also looking at fuel allocations. When that review is done, there's potential that we might even see even more seniors who can actually access that program, so it's a benefit to our seniors' population throughout the Northwest Territories. Thank you...
Yes, the department will follow-up with the Beaufort Delta Education Council, as this has been a concern and it's not the first time that we've had a family from the Member's community that brought this concern forward. Obviously, we want to revitalize our languages in Inuvialuit and Gwich'in, and keep it thriving in especially our smaller communities. So it is a concern and we'll have somebody from the department work with the Beaufort Delta Education Council to look at that policy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the concern from the Member. I know in communities like Inuvik and Aklavik where we have two different Aboriginal groups such as Gwich'in and Inuvialuit, putting your child in a language class is very important. It helps preserve culture languages as I spoke earlier in my Minister's statement; however, at Moose Kerr School I know that the staff work really hard to maintain, protect and revitalize both Inuvialuit and Gwich'in languages.
With the Moose Kerr School, about 10 years ago they went by the healthcare card, what was on the healthcare card, then...
As I mentioned, we're just in the preliminary stages working with the Department of ITI to develop that framework, which will lead into an action plan. We're also out doing promotion and awareness of our nominee program in the regions. We've just launched a website on October 13th, I believe, and it's got a lot of really good information and testimonials on there.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our department is the lead on the Nominee Program, though responsibility is shared with the Department of ITI. Under the Nominee Program ECE administers the employer-driven program which is comprised of three streams: critical impact workers; skilled workers; and, the NWT express entry. Right now, we're working with the Department of ITI to develop an immigration framework and action plan, and once that is in place that information will be shared with Members moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's exactly what we're doing. When we look at any kind of strategic investments in our infrastructure we've got to put it up against what other needs are in the communities. We have some small communities. For instance, in the last government we had one of our smallest communities that just had a running toilet/washroom. I don't know if the Members remember that. So when we're looking for a new campus, we've got to look at our needs assessment right from our smallest communities and put it up against what's already existing in some of our big communities and regional...