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. The Nunavut Minister is aware that I would like to move on this issue fairly quickly or very quickly. We still have to take due diligence with reviewing the applications that have been received. I will be asking the chair of the appeals tribunal to comment on the application and get that information back to me and I will work with the Minister from Nunavut to move as quickly as we can. It is something that we will advance as quickly as we can. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the board and governance council focus on workplace and worker safety, along with good financial stewardship, means the WCB of the NWT and Nunavut is well positioned to look after the interests of both workers and employers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two documents I’d like to table today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are hoping we can develop a policy that is rational and meets the needs of the people of the Northwest Territories. I would hate at this point, with the amount of time and effort and consultation that’s gone into reviewing this policy, to announce any changes suddenly. We intend to make some rational changes to this. Let’s be very clear about this; there may be some changes to the policy around how we subsidize housing for seniors. I expect that there will be, but I would rather we bring forward all of our proposals in a comprehensive, cohesive manner and make...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said, both the elected boards have ultimate responsibility for dealing with their constituents. If they are not satisfied with how things are happening, then they have to sit down and try to resolve that in their areas of influence.

Mr. Speaker, I am in a situation where we have, as I said, we have a board that has a surplus of space and one board that is short of space. We need to make sure that we have partners who are willing to work together and I am hopeful that we will. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am prepared to put efforts into working with the two boards, but I think to be fair it has to be recognized that there is not likely to be a resolution in terms of space by fall of 2006. All of the parties have agreed at this point that we are working towards the fall of 2007. I am prepared to continue efforts. I have recently received a letter from the Yellowknife Catholic Schools that calls into question their willingness or interest in continuing this process. I am going to have to check on that. If there is an interest, I would be quite prepared to put every...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The answer is yes.