Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I received a concern from a constituent regarding Student Financial Assistance; in particular, claiming a student travel benefit to return home for winter break.

The 2011 SFA Handbook states SFA will provide assistance for the basic airfare if travelling by plane or the current government rate for mileage if travelling by land or water. It goes on to say, “Important: You are responsible for making your own travel arrangements. Contact a travel agency near you listed in your local telephone directory. If you travel by land or water you are required to submit Form ‘A’...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that we report progress.

---Carried

Mr. Speaker, the Minister has gone to the second part of the question I was going to ask, and that is why, when a student returning from travel who provides an airplane ticket receipt with a credit card receipt stapled to it, why the department would want to see the name on the credit card and would like to see a copy of the credit card statement? I think that is excessive; however, what the Minister is saying here, I believe, is that there are other agencies who could possibly be paying for that and the government does not want to be reimbursing a student if, in fact, it is some other...

Are you confused? I am confused. The instructions in the policy and procedures manual contradict the information and instructions in the Student Handbook, and the newsletter reminder is different information yet again. As for requesting a copy of the credit card or credit card statement, what if the student had paid cash or borrowed the money from a friend, relative or bank, purchased the ticket knowing they’d be reimbursed and can pay the funds back to the lender later?

Mr. Speaker, I have more to say on this, but let’s just put it this way: there is a contradiction here between the policy. It...

I move that we report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The division of health care services located in Inuvik is called Health Services Administration and has 22 positions that deal with health card registrations, renewals, vital statistics, births, deaths, marriages and insured services benefits administration; for example, medical travel, extended health benefits for specific diseases, seniors’ benefits, Metis benefits, non-insured health benefits, and some of these benefits are partially administered by Alberta Blue Cross or DIAND as they are non-insured health benefits.

There are parties in Hay River, persons in Hay...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee would like to proceed with general comments and the detail of the Department of Health and Social Services. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee wishes to continue, please, with general comments on the NWT main estimates and after the general comments are completed to get into the detail with the first department, that being Health and Social Services, as time permits.

Is the Minister aware of any federal funding which is specifically available in relation to these kinds of issues in navigable waters? I have observed from the air, flying into Hay River, the buildup of silt that’s creating its own delta beyond the delta. Vale Island is a delta in the mouth of the Hay River and I’ve observed it, flying over this summer. It is going to have a huge impact if something is not done about it. I will not recite all that again. Is the Minister aware of any federal funding that we as a government could access to address this?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about dredging and my questions today are for the Minister of Transportation. Since the federal Department of Public Works vacated their role in Hay River in ensuring that the mouth of the river and the shipping channels in that area were dredged on a regular basis, whose responsibility is that function at this time?