Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have to look into that specific case, but any income that comes into the household, it is considered as household income, and due to that it’s based on the policies that we have in place. Mind you, policies can always be amended, as well, and there is an amendment that’s coming very soon on one of the subsidies that we provide. We’re going to make some changes.

With respect to this individual case, I have to follow up with the Member on the specific topic on the donation itself, because it is an issue that we may have to be faced with and possibly make some changes, but I...

The simplest answer would be yes. If they haven’t done so, as of today they need to start working with my department, with BDAC, and also with the committee that’s been established. Not only the Beaufort-Delta but other regions as well. We need to support those individual committees on a volunteer basis doing what they can. They are committed so we need to support them. I’m a firm believer in that.

I’m also meeting with the board chairs in December. I will raise that issue, as well, that we need to start implementing. It’s a shared responsibility. We need to move forward and make it a...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. First, I’d like to commend the committee of Inuvik working on this ASA, one of the priorities of this government, my department.

The funding that we do provide through ASA, Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, is approximately $1.8 million for ASA initiatives to fund a number of activities such as literacy coaches, the libraries, the cultural orientation for all teachers, an ASA coordinator and also an Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative public awareness campaign. This also deals with those communities that are initiating their own committee to work with the...

Mr. Speaker, I have to provide the detailed information to the Members, but there is a threshold income and also the type of fuel and by zoning. I will provide all of that information to the Members so they are aware of what is within a subsidy area. I will provide the actual budget for the detailed information. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Part of the eligibility is those individuals have to claim household income, who are all living in the house, and sometimes there is a denial in subsidy due to the fact that some individuals are working within the household. They are making fair enough money that can go towards the fuel, as well, to heat the residence. Those are some of the examples, but it is all based on household income of the elders who are living in the residence.

Each individual would have to claim what they are making. It is not only our program. There is Housing and other programs that are based on...

Mr. Speaker, part of the plan is to introduce the safe schools plan completed and implemented at the beginning of the 2013 school year. That is the overall plan, so we are moving forward on that.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Since the motion was brought forward to this House, my department has been working on various other jurisdictions to identify, or do a complete review of the anti-bullying legislation in other jurisdictions, as well, and developing a safe school proposal, which will be developed, and implementation of a safe school plan as well. Those are the areas that my department has taken on the initiative.

There are two major projects or pieces of proposals that will be introduced in the spring session. In the spring 2013 session we want to introduce the bill and also, at the same time...

Mr. Speaker, I need to confirm with my department on the specific policy on donations. If it’s part of the clawback, I will need to get back to the Members on that specifically. I do not want to give an answer now. It may be a question down the road. I want to verify that with my department first, prior to giving the answer.

I’ll definitely provide the detailed information of the committee that’s been established. To date we do have three communities that are working towards implementing the ASA. I’ll provide that detailed information to the Members.

Again, this money is flowed through the Beaufort-Delta Board of Education, and the funding that flows through would consist of various activities that the committee can access, as well, through the Beaufort-Delta Board of Education. Also, working closely with my staff that deal with ASA, we are currently discussing that. At the current stage we’re establishing an ASA steering committee to deal with these matters because we want to support the local ASA committees, such as Inuvik. They are part of the school system and others that take on the responsibility on a volunteer basis. So we need to...