Jackson Lafferty

The symposium, obviously, is geared towards I believe it’s the second week in March, March 11th to 12th I believe. This has been a long time in the works, and those individuals, obviously, will cover the small communities as well. Any input such as what the Member is sharing with us and others from the general public will be shared at that forum. Based on the report, obviously, they will create a framework that deals with the labour market in the whole Northwest Territories. So, we’ll do what we can to work with the stakeholders and have an action plan to move forwards with. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker...

The Member is raising this profile because there is still a lot of work that needs to be done, information that we’re compiling. The fibre optic was in discussion in 2009. Now it’s here, 2015-2016, and it’s going to be happening. We need to have the resources and we need to have the information on how many are required, positions that are required, the talented individuals, the skillsets required and also the Sahtu training institute that’s been brought up in this House. We’re compiling all of that information. We’re getting the people ready for all this work that is out there, whether it be...

That’s exactly what is going to be happening. Today and tomorrow in Hay River there’s a visitation that’s happening, and in the following regions, as well, up to March 2nd. Once there have been visitations and forums that have taken place, then there will be a follow-up with an action plan and also monitoring, evaluation and accountability. That needs to be established. Once the action plan has been developed in the business planning process, then we will be moving forward to implementation. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

I agree with the Member that we also need to focus on small communities. Small communities tend to feel left out and this is an area that will capture them as well. Even though we have regional representatives, that does consist of community members as well. That is educators, trainers, students, employers, industries, job seekers. All those will be captured. I assure you the small communities will be well represented.

Anytime we do a payment plan or subsidy to our clientele, obviously, there is a cost factor to it. I don’t have the actual figures because this is the first of its kind of RRSP clientele requesting income security area. We need to do further work in this area of the cost factor. Once the Member is compiling all the information with my department, we should have a clear idea of where we stand on this.

When we speak to income support and Income Assistance program, it is a program of last resort that helps the most vulnerable of community members in the Northwest Territories. When I speak of vulnerable citizens, I mean those that do not have anything to fall back on as opposed to RRSP, that there is financial support that is available to them.

We have to be very careful how we deal with policy changes when it comes to these particular areas. That’s why I am very cautious of changing the policies with respect to this particular area that we are faced with.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. When the decision came down by the government in this House on October 30th not to proceed with the second and third phase, the 23 communities that were in the process of delivering junior kindergarten, we reached out to them and they provided a written response by the end of last year in December. There were some communities that decided to opt out. Out of 23, there are 19 communities that decided to continue with junior kindergarten, a majority of JK deliverance in the community for this year and also next year. Next year will be around 18 junior kindergartens being...

This is a contribution through the organization that I spoke of earlier, and we can certainly look at those options as well. My Department of Education, Culture and Employment works closely with the NWT Arts Council and we will continue to support those organizations that submit their applications for these particular activities.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Kole Crook Fiddle Association has been very successful to date, since its inception in 2002. Since 2004, Education, Culture and Employment supported with funding through the NWT Arts Council, a Support to Northern Performers cultural contribution with a total of close to $250,000 since 2004. This averages $20,000 a year. We will continue to provide that valuable contribution to that organization. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the House that the Territorial Nominee Program has been greatly enhanced to better meet the needs of employers and to advance the population and economic growth objectives set by this government.

Economic growth in the territory is creating opportunities for employment and investment in many sectors, particularly in the non-renewable resource sector. To continue to build a strong and competitive economy, this government has committed to increasing immigration as a component of the broader economic and population growth work while maintaining our priority to...