The fact is there are many players and it is a very complex situation because we are dealing with 11 official languages, nine Aboriginal languages and numerous regional organizations, all of whom are key players when it comes to language revitalization. If he’s referring to GNWT doing the same as Aboriginal governments, I can advise the Member that this is not the case. Aboriginal governments, as I stated before, are implementing their five-year regional language plan and we are helping along the way. We are not implementing their plan, they are.

When it comes to dealing with Aboriginal...

Mahsi. These are the very reasons why we transferred to NWT Housing Corporation to identify those 75 housing units throughout the Northwest Territories, and Yellowknife is a big factor in that. I believe there were 55 slated for Yellowknife.

These are just some of the areas that we’ve identified as core need and we need to work with it, with the various parties involved.

We’re doing what we can to the best of our ability as income security, along with our partners such as the NWT Housing Corporation and NGOs as well. Mahsi.

Through our Income Security Program, the Income Assistance program directs all individuals who are considered transient directly to an emergency shelter. That’s why we work very closely with the NWT Housing Corporation and NGOs to deal with these matters. Depending on the person’s circumstances, an individual’s family may become eligible for income assistance after their stay in an emergency shelter. There is food and shelter available through that venue.

But we, again, work with those NGOs and the Housing Corporation to assist those individual clientele as best as we can as a department...

Mr. Speaker, I have often talked about the Education Renewal Initiative in this House and have updated Members a number of times as to its progress. In our discussions last year, Members said that unless children actually go to school it does not matter what programs and supports are provided. Members encouraged us to create a school attendance advertising campaign and, Mr. Speaker, we have acted upon that advice.

Mr. Speaker, our school attendance rates are not where we want them to be. Students must strive for 100 percent in order to give themselves the best chance to learn. A student who has...

Our system is not broken. We still provide funding. We still provide subsidy to those Northwest Territories clientele on income security, and we will continue to do. We always make improvements as well.

Again, I have to reiterate, in 2007 we made substantial changes to our food programming and we will continue to do so. Again, in 2015 we’re going to have another increase. I’m not sure. The Member is referring to a feasibility study. These are the changes that we heard and we’re moving forward on the changes from the recommendation of the general public. We’re making changes to our policy every...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My department provides income security to those individuals who are in need of subsidy, we’re not failing those people. We’re providing subsidy to those individuals. When the Member talks about Manitoba, the Mincome, in 1974 they subsidized 1,000 families with monthly cheques. At that time the federal and provincial governments collectively spent $17 million in 1974. Just imagine the cost factor today.

This is an area that my department will do what we can to provide the basic needs to those individual clients based on their needs. There has been a request for an increase in...

The Member is quite correct in saying this government invests well over $15 million a year in support of Aboriginal language and culture preservation. That is our overall target. The GNWT and the federal government invest over $15 million annually through various programs and grants along the way and also support our goals and objectives.

I’m extremely proud to say that our government has empowered Aboriginal governments and educational authorities. I can highlight some of the key initiatives of the money that we have allocated directly to the communities: $8.4 million towards the educational...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We as the Department of Education, Culture and Employment shifted our contribution agreement to Aboriginal language organizations through their cultural funding previously administered by my department. It’s going directly to the regional Aboriginal governments so they can administer these programs.

This funding agreement also allows Aboriginal governments some flexibility, Mr. Speaker, a greater flexibility, accountability and decision-making authority for their revitalization. They are the grassroots people. They know where the solutions live.

The Member is asking if there...

Mahsi. We’re dealing throughout the whole Northwest Territories, it’s not only Yellowknife. There are other shelters that we work with. Through the NWT Housing Corporation and my department, we find the best solutions that we possibly can for those individuals in an emergency state. If there are no emergency shelters, obviously we work with the Housing Corporation to identify a suitable accommodation on a short-term, temporary basis. We provide income assistance through that venue for how we can assist those individuals. It’s all based on a case-by-case basis and there are many parties...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Income Security Program assists with those individuals who are in need of basic subsidy. Part of the transitional housing obviously falls into that as well. We’re providing a shelter for those individuals who desperately need shelter in the Northwest Territories. It’s not only my department but we work closely with the NWT Housing Corporation to identify those areas. Those are just some of the subsidies that we continue to support those individuals who are in need.