Bob Bromley

Mr. Speaker, I’m disappointed to hear that, obviously. The House provided clear direction here as a result of several years of previous discussions. When we directed the Midwifery Program be accelerated for Hay River, we envisioned and stipulated that this would also accelerate the midwifery programs for the Beaufort-Delta, Behchoko and Yellowknife.

Can the Minister please explain how the department is planning to get the midwifery expansion back on schedule, and confirm that the delays in Hay River will not be allowed to delay implementation in other communities as well? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize some Pages in the House today. Niva Stephenson, who actually is just outside, I believe, but we have in the gallery today her mother, Karen Johnston, and her grandmother, Sue Johnston. A great welcome to them.

I also have a couple of others. I see Grace Clark here and her twin sister, Sophie, has been running around here, both of whom are fiddlers, by the way, of some renown. I would also like to recognize Anne Thomas, who is also a great fiddler, although not a Weledeh resident. Many thanks for the services of the Pages today.

Thanks to the Minister. I think that has me at least further along. So I understand now that this is also really about other kinds of training, not necessarily electronic. It might be training to become a better renewable resources officer or a better manager, personnel manager or something like that. This software is going to help track all that and keep the employee informed and the supervisor informed. I think I’m getting it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I always wonder how many jobs we’re displacing with this electronic stuff and how much other software this covers that’s replacing PYs, but that’s...

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Mr. Miltenberger, would you like to reply?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister Miltenberger, any comments?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the chair of the Social Envelope Committee of Cabinet.

How will the Anti-Poverty Action Plan specifically change the social safety net system so that people with a disabling credit rating are still able to gain timely access to income support from Education, Culture and Employment that also meets their housing needs?

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment currently requires that people with housing debt establish and honour a repayment plan with the Housing Corporation for six months before qualifying for income support. How will the Anti...

The Minister has very correctly depicted this as a cross-departmental dilemma. Clearly focused attention is needed on these conflicting cross-departmental policies that entrap people in poverty, as the Minister has said.

Will the Anti-Poverty Action Plan include funding or dedicated personnel, almost an ombudsman sort of a person, to research and suggest solutions to poverty traps like these and other policy dilemmas as they come up? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to follow up from my earlier Member’s statement with questions to the lead Minister for the Anti-Poverty Strategy, Mr. Abernethy.

As I mentioned in my statement today, my constituents are telling me that our social safety net contains poverty traps. Some of the rules make it very difficult for people to access the help they need.

I’d like to start by asking the Minister, first of all, what is the current status of the Anti-Poverty Strategy Action Plan. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to also recognize Tony Whitford, if he’s still here. I don’t know if Mayor Mark Heyck is still here. I’d also like to recognize – again I can’t see them – Dick and Loretta Abernethy, both residents of Weledeh. Hi up there. Finally, Sophie Clark, a resident of Weledeh and one of our Pages today. Thanks very much for all the service the Pages are providing us. Mahsi.

Thank you, Minister. I am sure we could all agree one wish is to have more money. Ms. Bisaro.