Jackson Lafferty

Mr. Speaker, indeed, we are always looking for solutions. If there is a challenge on our hands such as we are maybe facing today, but at the same time we can certainly correct those areas. I am glad the Member is raising those issues, so we will certainly follow through with it. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, such as the Arctic Winter Games, the decision is made way in advance. Sport North, if we continue to work with them through MACA but the dates aren’t even set. We are given opportunity to have our northern athletes. We do have true talented northern athletes that we want to be represented at this national level. At the same time, yes, we continue to work with NGOs or territorial organizations for the territorial government to meet the standards of students’ education factor. While they are out doing trials, they are still educating themselves. Mr. Speaker, we must assure that in...

Mr. Speaker, I may not be bringing a hammer and saw with me when I go to the communities, but certainly that is a starting point. The next phase will be the business planning cycle. I assure the Member that ongoing discussion and an in-depth discussion will take place and we’ll start planning for next year. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, this is all preliminary. We just received the recommendations. They are recommendations for us to consider. We may not cover every aspect of the recommendations that are brought forward, but the most critical need we’ll certainly consider that into our business planning cycle.

Mr. Speaker, we may not be able to have the upgrades as we speak today, but certainly that’s a going-forward basis for the next business planning cycle. I am committing to looking into this further with the Member and with the school board education council to develop an action plan. Mahsi.

I do agree that students with full stomachs learn better in school. So we’ll continue to support in that respect.

I did request the information and it is coming to our department through the communications department that we’ve initiated this with an outside source. So as soon as I get that information I will certainly share that with the Member.

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have with me to my immediate right is the deputy minister, Mr. Dan Daniels, and also Mr. Paul Devitt, director of strategic business planning. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, in this particular area, yes, our employees or client services officers under the management of the income support managers do assess them, do evaluate them based on the work criteria. Not only that, but we request for outside assessment as well. We ask certain individuals that may be as part of the clientele. We need to get input as much as we can because it is public relations. It is one of the priorities that we need to establish. We continue to improve on those areas. Yes, Mr. Speaker, we do have a mechanism to deal with that assessment of all client service officers. Mahsi...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. As the Member indicated, this is a particular program for seniors to deal with their home heating subsidy. We do advertise in the newspaper. Also, not only that, but Internet and also local TV channels for information. We need to spread the news into the communities that we do have subsidy available. We do what we can to spread the news through our regional representatives as well as through client service officers and the regional officers. Mr. Speaker, we continue to improve our communication dialogue on through those individuals that require subsidies such as seniors...

Mr. Speaker, I guess the action would be that we need to work on this with the Executive. Like I said, it is beyond just the Justice department. The ombudsman is an avenue of last resort. According to other jurisdictions that have them, and investigating complaints about breaches of privacy or legislation after all other avenues have been exhausted. So this is the last resort venue. We deal with matters that have come to our attention. I try to deal with it immediately. I try to resolve those issues. I think we have an excellent mechanism that we can deal with those areas. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.