Charles Dent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have taken to the Standing Committee on Social Programs several times over the past few months some proposals for program changes. We’ve discussed where we’re headed with this program. At this point, we’re in the process of developing the costings for the different models that are under consideration that we’re expecting to be able to take to the standing committee in November or December and the goal would be to look at implementing changes for April 1st, 2007. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the Northwest Territories our government has no intention of cutting back what’s there. So programs that are entirely funded by the Government of the Northwest Territories will definitely continue. The college is going to have some programs that they had hoped to expand this year that they’re not going to be able to expand, but we will take a look at what we can do in the future budget to strengthen our literacy program in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have worked with my colleagues in the Council of Ministers of Education Canada to ensure that we are able to meet with Minister Finley from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada to let her know personally of our disappointment with the approach. That meeting is, by the way, set up for next Tuesday. I have written to Minister Finley as well to outline our concerns for the impacts on the Northwest Territories that we will see from these cuts and to request from her their plan, the federal government’s plan, to reinvest in literacy so that we can...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I would say we have received a number of qualified applicants that we can consider for filling the vacant public interest position. It is my intention to attempt to consider them as quickly as possible in concert with the Minister of Nunavut. We have been in touch with his office several times in the past week since the receipt of all of the applicants. We are hoping that very shortly we will be able to make an appointment to the vacant public interest position. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today I will table the Workers' Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut 2005 Annual Report. Mr. Speaker, it contains good news for northern stakeholders.

Everyone agrees the sooner an injured worker is helped to return to work, the better. The WCB offers injured workers the Healthy Return to Work Program. Through this innovative program, the average duration for lost-time accidents is under 44 days.

Mr. Speaker, last year the WCB registered 3,321 new claims. Of these, 950 were from workers who lost time at work. Of all the claims registered...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said in my response to Mr. Ramsay, the promise that was made publicly and in this House was that when the subsidy program for public housing, which includes the subsidy for seniors in public housing, when that was transferred or responsibility for that program was transferred from the Housing Corporation to Education, Culture and Employment it would be taken over with no change in the policy. At this point there is no change. We are examining all of our income security programs and all of our subsidy programs that are administered by Education, Culture and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Because this House was assured that when the changeover took place that there would be no change in the rules that were administered by the Housing Corporation and that any change would come about as a result of the overall review of the income security programs, all of the income security programs, that process is underway with us working to go back to the standing committee, hopefully fairly shortly with some proposed changes. We have gone back to the standing committee to outline what we have heard during the consultation process and what some of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I say that the issues might be resolved, I am afraid, Mr. Speaker, that I can’t say that everybody is going to be satisfied with the resolution. I do believe that we have been working towards a resolution. I don’t know if we are still in that position today. We may be in a situation where we haven’t got an agreement to work any longer. I am going to have to confirm whether or not that’s happening and then we’ll follow up on it. It’s my goal to try to have a decision made by the parties at one point or another. I think it’s important to point out we have two...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the end of the first week in May, I did receive the Yellowknife facilities report from the committee. The next day I received a phone call from one of the boards asking if an offer I had made previously to facilitate a bilateral meeting between the two Yellowknife school boards was still open. I confirmed that I would be prepared to have such a meeting facilitated. That was set up. It took place. At that meeting, the Yellowknife District No. 1 agreed that they would take some time to review their position and put in writing in a letter to me what they...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I haven’t received a reply yet from Public Works and Services advising us as to the condition of the school. I’m certain that they will be looking at it or have looked at it, but we haven’t received the report yet. Thank you.