Kevin A. Menicoche

Those two issues, I’d certainly like to follow up with the Minister. He spoke about reviewing the Income Support Policy. Is it specific to the seniors home heating subsidy or else is it the whole income support programming that they have? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment questions on the seniors home heating subsidy that I raised earlier in my Member’s statement. One of the issues I had was when an elder had applied and the issue was that her daughter was staying with her and couldn’t get her income tax assessment and the alternative is to find another means for her to declare that she didn’t work the previous year. What avenues can we look at that situation?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to return to an issue that I’ve raised before and spoke on in Committee of the Whole yesterday. I want to speak about eligibility issues with the seniors home heating subsidy that was raised during my tour of the constituency in January.

It is not uncommon for an adult son or daughter of an elder to live in their parent’s home, and it can be very helpful as it means there will be someone in the house who can help them in difficult situations. Also, I do have an instance where a family member does not actually live in the home but does stay there for a few days a...

I certainly support a review of the program guidelines and criteria. I think what people were really saying to me is there’s got to be some flexibility when you’re evaluating this criteria and not just be so stern and be by the book. That’s what the people are looking for. I’d like to ask the Minister: can he direct his department to start to have a heart there, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Another issue is who determines who lives in the household. Another instance of where the nephew comes in two or three times a month and not every month and they’re saying that he’s actually a resident of that house. I need the definition of a resident, because I don’t believe that’s residency at all. I’d like to ask the Minister if the department will look at that or at least provide me with a definition of residency.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I am very happy that my older sister Elizabeth “Betty” Hardisty is in the gallery here today. She lives in Fort Simpson. I’d like to recognize her and thank her for her support all throughout the years. Thank you.

It’s absolutely important and imperative that the facilities are there to everyone to improve the sustainability, the workforce background and basic adult literacy is fundamental to this in the smaller communities. If we don’t have the facilities there, how exactly are we going to do that? Right now I think the only option is... I don’t know how often they do it, but someone does have to come in from Fort Simpson and/or a larger centre and scrounge around for equipment. I think the better strategy is, and I would certainly urge, that Wrigley get on the high priority list for identifying...

I think that’s an outstanding offer by the Minister and I just do want to add when she had first met with the grads about two or three years ago, they were really pleased about the support that the Minister and the Department of Health and Social Services had for the grads. Once again, I’d like to get the Minister’s commitment that she will make the offer and will go over and meet with the graduate students this year. Thank you very much.

When we say things in the House it is recorded in Hansard. That’s exactly the words I have in front of me, which says, “They need more training before they can be put into practice settings. They wouldn’t be, I don’t think, ready to apply for a job that’s available on the website.” That’s the kind of thing that really shocks them and I think it’s outrageous. The chief of my community thinks it’s outrageous that the Minister would say something like that. Once again, if anything, I know that the Minister is taking great lengths, between her and her department, to meet with the graduating nurses...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to follow up on my Member’s statement on northern grad nurses. I mentioned that I received a copy of the letter to Ms. Lee from one of my constituents who was really dismayed and took offense to the remark in the House by Ms. Lee. I just wanted to get some clarification, questions. Is there an actual policy or directive of government that graduated nurses that have designated RNs must take some additional training to be employed in our system, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.