Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this ombudsman has been addressed in 2008, as the Member alluded to. This does require action to make changes to the Residential Tenancies Act if we move forward on this. At the same time, we did look into that from our department perspective. The Department of Executive have done preliminary work in this area and the results also tell us that there are already a variety of means where constituencies can have their concerns or issues addressed through various venues. Also, this particular office of the ombudsman, the resource would definitely be capital...

Mr. Speaker, I’m glad the Member is asking that question. It is important to highlight that. There have been numerous assessments with regard to whether it be the daycare, having young ones in school, if they’re succeeding on to kindergarten or grade 1, what that status is on in that respect. Those are areas we continue to work with. We continue to work with education councils, as well, in the district education authority, because those are important factors that we need to consider. When we talk about the business planning process, those are the key targets that we need to discuss with those...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. That Early Childhood Program has been successful in the communities, especially in the smaller communities where we provide funding to the Aboriginal Head Start Program or preschool. The Family Literacy Program is part of the Literacy Strategy 2008-2018. And also the day homes that we’ve been promoting for a number of years now. We continue to promote those particular programs because we want those programs to be successful. Early childhood is important for education so we can see some success in those areas. I can certainly provide the Member or Members more detailed...

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to provide an update on our new approach to recruit and training corrections officers and youth officers to work in our facilities.

In the past, we have had challenges with recruiting Northerners for these specialized jobs. Not just anyone can work as a corrections officer or in a correctional centre. These jobs take many skills and the right attitude. The skills required are not easy to come by in the North, and we need to make sure that people have the skills and training they need to qualify for these jobs. Situations can escalate within seconds and staff need to be...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 10, Exemption Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill repeals and replaces the existing Exemption Act. The categories of property that are exempt from seizure under the right of execution are described in contemporary language and are expanded to include types of property essential for subsistence of the debtor and his or her dependents. Transitional matters are provided for and Public Service Garnishee Act is consequentially amended. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, one of our key priorities is, of course, public relations that we have in place. We do have a continuous training program that is highlighted for client service officers dealing with the public. Mr. Speaker, this area is of importance to income security. We do have in-house training. We do send client service officers outside to get trained as well. So there is continuous training that is happening. We can’t say that there is no training happening. I have to correct the Member that there is constant training that is taking place. We will continue to do so to improve our public...

Mr. Speaker, we can certainly provide the information that we do have on hand about our research that we have done and our consultation with various provincial jurisdictions and working with the Executive branch. We can certainly provide that information, Mr. Speaker. As we move forward, if this is an area that we need to look at, then we can certainly discuss with the Member and also the standing committee. If we need to move forward with costs, there will be a cost factor. So that needs to be taken into consideration as well. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we can certainly talk about the process that we have in place, whether it be the MLAs coming to the Minister and dealing with certain issues or the process. We try to rectify the problems or challenges that are before us. Sometimes it does take time to deal with those matters because of the documentation that’s required. Whatever we do, Mr. Speaker, we try to avoid the court proceedings. That should be the last resort as much as we can. We currently deal with a variety of, I guess you can say, options of how we can deal with matters at hand. Within the Department of Justice, I...

Mr. Speaker, I can certainly commit my regional staff to work with the community that the Member is referring to. Not only that, but working with the education councils as well, because we provide funding to education for facilities and operations of the schools and the daycare. It all varies in the different communities how we sponsor them, so certainly I’ll commit to that, to provide more information to the Member. Mahsi.

The money that we’ve identified in the past and going forward in early childhood consists of many aspects of facilities that we sponsor in the Northwest Territories. I can certainly provide the breakdown to the Member of the past sponsors that we’ve had and it does vary. If I’m going to speak to it, it’s a bit of a long list. Certainly that information can be shared with the Members whenever it is requested. I can do that.