Statements in Debates
Going through such an exercise is difficult on our senior management. Obviously, we don't want to look at any positions being cut as affecting residents of the Northwest Territories, but we do look at the position based on those three factors. It's not based on the individual that's in that position, it's based solely on the position and using those three factors to identify should a job be cut that it will have the least disruption to the programs that they serve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. When the announcement for this funding came out, we had about a month, as did other institutions, to try to get the funding, so we had to look and act fast to get a proposal developed and together and out the door and look at where we can provide training and opportunities in the Northwest Territories. The heavy equipment facility in Smith was a prime example which we can support. The Mine Training Society actually just donated a bunch of equipment to the campus there, as well, so it was just a great opportunity for us. There was a lot of federal dollars, and we didn't...
Mr. Speaker, all positions from entry level to management are looked at and reviewed and we base it on those three factors that I mentioned; mostly the one that would be least disruptive to the program delivery in that division.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, there's no winners or losers here. That's not how we do our business. We have an Aurora College Act that we do follow and fund the Aurora College and the learning centres. We do fund College nordique and we also fund Dechinta, and actually I think we just signed a multi-year agreement with them just recently or are about to, increasing the funding that we do give to them. So we've funded Dechinta over the years, and continue to fund Dechinta. I'd also ask the chair that we also focus on the infrastructure side of things, rather than discuss some of the program...
As I mentioned earlier, all our client service officers got the adequate training; the training that they need should any concerns be brought forth from our income assistance clients. As I mentioned yesterday, all the dollars that were going to the clients, ones with families especially, have actually gone up in every household. So any other further concerns, I'd ask them to go and speak to a client service officer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Well, as you can see in the last callout, there was a couple of different organizations, including ourselves, that was asking for funding and put in an application. It doesn't have to be government-sponsored to get that funding. Thank you.
Any concerns that were brought to the attention of the office, we clarified the situation. As I mentioned, we've taken out the Canada Child Benefit that was introduced on July 1st, so we wouldn't count them in the assessments, meaning that all children and all families, in fact, got the full amount of the Canada Child Benefit and we just clarified anything that came up. Since that, we haven't heard any concerns since then.
Yes, thank you. I believe the business case in the proposal that Dechinta was asking from the specific fund was in the amount of $5 million.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time I'd like to welcome my cousin, William Greenland to the House and also a well-renowned artist here in the Northwest Territories. Welcome.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we were aware that Dechinta had made that application. Thank you.