Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is for increased costs for medical travel. I just want to know what our total budget for medical travel is. That’s obviously a substantial increase, but perhaps not if the total medical travel budget is very large. Thank you.

Thank you. I can only conclude that the department’s response to the Auditor General that the audit tool would be in place by January 2013 has not been done. So I welcome the Minister to correct me on that, if that’s the case. That would be obviously disappointing.

In my statement I outlined the case of a local social service agency that sends one of a few staff members to accompany clients to appointments if they find out one particular income support worker has been assigned to the application. Based on their experience, they know the applicant is in for a rude and demeaning experience. So...

Am I correct, then, in assuming that we approved a similar amount last year, probably a little bit less for the increase last year?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on my Member’s statement earlier today with questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. The 58 percent failure rate on case files in income security with a $15 million annual budget is horrifying. In over half the files, we don’t know if public money was properly accounted for. So we’re failing in our basic duty to get the best use of funds and put them where they are most needed, but we are also failing in our intent to reduce the potential for human suffering.

Part of the department response to the report says ECE had not...

Sorry. I dragged off there. To see what will be recovered through the Disaster Relief Fund. I know it won’t cover all, but I think we were hoping it will cover a lot of it. If I can just get that completed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Auditor General of Canada’s report on the delivery of income security programs contains shocking confirmations of failure in service. For we Members who frequently intervene on behalf of constituents receiving completely unsatisfactory treatment, the findings are no surprise. The report stresses the vital importance of ensuring vulnerable citizens are supported in their times of need and help towards greater self-reliance. In many of our communities, where there simply aren’t enough jobs, it’s income assistance or starve. For the injured, disabled and ill, there is...

I think I’ve got it. This is just simply the higher cost of electricity. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The million dollars, is that to look after Nunavut artifacts at our cost? Is that what that’s all about?

Okay. So is this $1.212 million strictly with respect to the Inuvik situation?

Thank you. I appreciate that we’re going to look at this and figure out how to try and repatriate people, including children. I guess the frustrating part is the Standing Committee on Social Programs did have a close look at this, made recommendations. I don’t think the program review office needs to redo that work. What’s needed now is some implementation on those recommendations.