Charles Dent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have already committed to Mr. Ramsay that I will examine the situation. To put everybody on the same footing means that everybody gets the same subsidy. I only have a certain number of dollars to work with, so that may impact on what we can provide everybody. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If we are going to provide subsidies to one, we have to provide to subsidies to all if we want to make sure that there is equity. I think that there are only two ways to accomplish the equity, but I would certainly be happy to take a look at what we could do. I would be happy to put more money into child day care. I think that it is an area that we need to invest in. It is an area that I am planning to bring forward some investment plans in. I think we have to be careful. We are not just talking about profit or non-profit things here. All of the centres in the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the urgency of dealing with this situation, and the Member raised the issue with us last fall. Since that time, the assistant deputy minister has written to all superintendents, urging the superintendents to ensure that they have a clear policy developed to deal with issues around anaphylaxis and to make sure that there is a policy in place at all of our schools. So we don’t have policies in place at this point, but schools have been asked to develop those now. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There’s been no secret that Education, Culture and Employment has embarked on a review of income security programs. I made statements on that in the last session. We have been very upfront about it. We have a process of consultation that’s taking place all across the Northwest Territories right now. In that whole process, we’re reviewing all of our income security programs. So it’s not just one program; it’s all of them. We haven’t got any plans yet for changes. What we’re doing is looking at them, talking to people, asking for advice as to where people think...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As with all programs of the government, there is an appeals process. If somebody finds that they haven't an opportunity to meet the program requirements adequately, they can appeal the decision and ask that it be reapplied. The same process will apply here.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would expect that the relationship would be no different than in the office with the income support worker than it is in the housing office right now. Those people who are in stable situations wouldn't have to come in necessarily every month. It's not our intention that that sort of thing would change. Right now, typically somebody who is in a stable situation will have an arrangement with the housing authority where they may only go in once every six months, or once a year. The same sort of circumstance is going to apply for people in stable situations when the...

…for the name change on April 1st, but I would be happy to accompany the Member to the community sometime in the not-too-distant future to celebrate the change of name.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The names will change officially on April 1st, 2006.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not particularly aware of what all other jurisdictions do. I know the department has looked at what is done in some jurisdictions. I know that included with the letter that was sent out by the assistant deputy minister was a pamphlet that was provided by Health Canada around the issue of anaphylaxis and preparing policies. So we have been doing some research to find out from the federal government and other areas what is being done. We will continue to do that and watch for best practices. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As of April 1st there will be no change in rents for people in social housing. So those people who are in social housing as of April 1st, 2006, will see absolutely no change. However, the whole income security policy is under review and we expect by sometime later this year to come forward to the Legislative Assembly with some changes that are proposed to the policy. It would be premature, at this point, to say what those changes might be, or where the impacts might be.