Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I believe the negotiation is up and coming in 2012. I believe that is the expiration date. That will be before us as we move forward. Mahsi.

For those communities without those establishments, and small communities, we are exploring different areas, whether it be expanding on the mobile training that is similar to what we have in the Beaufort-Delta. We are currently exploring those areas because it has been very successful to date. It is producing talented individuals in the community. We want to tackle those areas. That’s where it’s at especially with the small communities without the establishments.

Since it was brought to our attention, we shared with the college immediately, because it was the wish of the students and we haven’t conducted a feasibility study as of yet. The program that has been requested, we need to explore further, do our research and work with the southern institutions who can best deliver that program. We do have various partners in southern institutions, so we will be conducting those studies as well. Mahsi.

Mahsi. This is an area that we have explored and are working towards that. This is a national issue where individuals come in with their doctor’s certification but it’s not recognized by different provinces or different areas. We have an understanding between the federal, provincial and territorial Ministers that we need to recognize some of those credentials that are being brought forward from other parts of the country. So, Mr. Speaker, we are working with it nationally and provincially, and also at the territorial level. So we continue to work on that. Mahsi.

We don’t have the specifics in place yet but we are developing a framework to work on that within our department to work with the small communities.

Mr. Chairman, I can shed some light on this particular matter. This area has always been a real challenge to balance or to strike the right balance between assisting those individuals that are on income support and pushing them towards or creating economic dependency.

There is a program in place with our department as well: Productive Choices. We have initiated, in the past, various programs so that we can get people out of their homes and work for the money that we provide to them, but there has been a push back. They went through their leaders and their MLAs and put more pressure on us to...

As I indicated, the money that will flow with the new community learning centre will happen. The Member is asking for additional funding. We provide funding to the local DEA to provide programming in CTS and different areas. At this point we don’t have the additional dollars to put into the system. This is an area we can look at for next year’s planning session. At the same time, the funding that has been in existence is being transferred with the new building.

Like I said before, we will continue to provide funding based on the students and based on the operation of alternative school programming. We’re focusing on the students and providing funding for operations costs. As I stated, if there are additional costs as required on the students, then we’ll seriously look at those areas as well.

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. I agree with the Member that we need to advertise more. We are doing that currently with the website and working closely with employers, as well, to identify those individuals. We may have to be fed up a bit within our department that we are aware of that.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I did highlight that we need to plan for next year’s capital planning process and this will be part of the process. Mahsi.