Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. This particular area has been brought to our attention and it is part of the reason why we have initiated the framework to identify where it is highly needed, apprenticeship training and employment in small communities, and it consists of industries, Aboriginal governments and corporations, bands and also the departments. We need to identify those needs in collaboration amongst the groups and identify the highest needs in certain areas. We have heard that so we are developing the framework to respond to what the Members are saying. Mahsi.

What we do have are the regions and also headquarters. Headquarters lost three positions and the regions lost 7.75 positions. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We had some intakes into the funding that’s available but there hasn’t really been much interest over the years. We do advertise it. We have it on our website as well. The Aboriginal organizations, if they want to access it, we have on our website the list of criteria, what’s involved, how much money is available. It’s out there.

Yes, it could be part of the discussion. It would be between the parties that will be negotiating. It’s noted. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. In those situations, especially pertaining to income tax, we do allow individuals to provide that documentation, because it is important to provide that documentation. We allow up to May to provide that information.

Mr. Chair, we are working towards that and I understand there is a review that is being undertaken. We will be sharing this with the college as well. We did share with the college when the Member raised that issue a while back along with other courses that he’s highlighted. This has been addressed and we are working with the college and within our department as well. Mahsi.

Mahsi. I will provide the Member with the information that is being provided to those immigrants, whether it be the training program, the programs that are available to them and various other programs that I’ve highlighted, so that those individuals are comfortable living in the Northwest Territories and going beyond what’s out there. Recognizing their credentials, that’s an area that we are still exploring and we are working towards. So I take the Member’s notice and we’ll take it into consideration. Mahsi.

The stats that we use could be part of the tools to determine the funding for these small community employment support initiatives. Then other information that we also gather and collect determines the funding as well. As I stated, we are developing a plan for the small community employment support programming.

Mr. Chair, the quickest answer would be we can definitely explore this throughout resources, career centres in the regions. Also some students are in school who are on income support. One time an individual came up and asked about going to school and she said I have to go to school to get paid. I said don’t you go to school to get educated? It was more about getting money to go to school. So we have to create more incentives for them to change their lifestyle. That’s what we want to do. I’m willing to work with it, with the regions and MLAs. Sometimes you will get a lot of heat as MLAs and...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. We’ll definitely follow through with that and provide that information as soon as possible.