Jackson Lafferty

Mr. Speaker, the information that we receive with a one-bedroom apartment is suitable to this couple and the funding that we provide is upwards of $1,100 to cover the rent on a monthly basis. The information that we receive is assessable for this couple, so based on that we provide the funding, but if they want to access a two-bedroom, at their request, then we can provide up to what they qualify for and the difference will be up to the couple, but at the same time, they are eligible for a one bedroom subsidy from our department. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. There is a process that we have to follow through Education, Culture and Employment when it comes to dealing with clientele when it comes to housing. I have to work closely with the Housing Minister because they have the units of availability in the communities and the units that may be available to them.

The process that we have highlighted is also based on the Office of the Auditor General guidelines that we have to follow. Based on the needs of those individuals, the community members, whether it be couples, it is a guideline that we have within Education, Culture and...

The Member is quite correct; with our GNWT fiscal constraint, we are challenged with that throughout the whole Northwest Territories. At the same time, we must move forward on the initiatives before us. We certainly will be providing or developing an action plan towards Education Renewal Initiative and Innovation. That will be available by this summer. Based on that, it will highlight the cost factor for those recommendations being brought to our attention as part of the recommendation plan. Once that’s available, then we will go through a business planning process, then we will highlight the...

Part of the initiative that we are undertaking through the Early Childhood Development Framework is aimed at dealing with that matter and providing the best services we possibly can for children of the Northwest Territories, covering all communities and regions as well.

Some areas we have been providing to those communities through Education, Culture and Employment through the Early Childhood Development Framework, and the action plan with 22 recommendations is the part of the plan we are willing to move forward on. Once the budget is approved, then we will be rolling out the program to the...

Mahsi. Within the income support division, we’re always reviewing our policy. This is one area that we can certainly look at working with the Housing Corporation, also the seniors, the Minister responsible for Seniors, how we can manage this file. At the same time, we have to keep in mind the Office of the Auditor General, the strict guidelines that they set for us. We have to follow those as well. By all means, we will be reviewing those policies that we have within our shop. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, when we talk about the couple in Inuvik, we may be getting specifically into the clientele which I don’t feel comfortable discussing in this House. I can talk to you about the process itself, and with this we are talking about individuals from the community accessing housing units available through the Housing Corporation. We subsidize on the rent scale a one-bedroom apartment based on their needs, or a two-bedroom apartment depending on availability in the community as well.

It is my understanding that there are two available in Inuvik, so those are discussions that we have been...

As it’s been highlighted with the budget address in this House, it is capturing a lot of social issues in the small communities. I believe we have gone a long way to reach that point where once we go through this action plan through the Education Renewal Initiative, then it will capture those small, isolated, vulnerable communities. We initiated that earlier.

Part of the pillars we have is focus on small communities, small community schools. Those are key factors and part of discussions we have been having with engagement with the public and we will continue to do that. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

It’s important to note that the EDI has been performed throughout the Northwest Territories so it can capture how our children are doing in the small, isolated communities versus the regional centres and larger centres as well.

The Member is raising some areas of concern about how some small communities are in a different calibre compared to regional centres. That is quite true. We need to focus on those areas. Due to that fact, we are developing action plans. We have developed action plans around the Early Childhood Development Framework and the whole Education Renewal Initiative. We will be...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Shannon Payne who’s here with us today. She’s part of the Assembly of First Nations Indian Residential School personal credit liaison. She’s the lead on the file for the NWT and will be here in Yellowknife until Monday. She will have a booth at the NWT Wellness Conference this weekend. If anybody needs more information about the Indian Residential School personal credit, Shannon will be the person answering those questions. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following three documents, entitled “Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 26-17(4), Universal Affordable Daycare;” “Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 1-17(5), Sahtu Institute of Technology Planning Study;” and “GNWT Response to Motion 5-17(5), Education Renewal and Innovation.”