Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. At the risk of causing mayhem, I do want to thank, though, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Education and his staff for the information about the reallocation for inclusive schooling. I think the important thing to take away from this is that it is a good thing. There is now going to be extra money for JK students for 2017-2018. We are getting closer to fully funded for -- the Minister is laughing, as I am, too. In 2018-2019, the formulas are going to be changing, and that is the best solution in the long term. It is a good-news story all around.

I had a peek back...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Just while we are on the subject of apprenticeships, maybe I can ask this Minister, and I might have to ask another one: it seems to me that when we're doing big capital projects that that is an opportunity for us to promote apprenticeships and trades, and so on. Do we insert into the contract requirements that contractors hire or use apprentices? Is that something that we would find in the contracting arrangements for large GNWT projects? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

I would like to thank the Premier for that commitment, and I look forward to reading the correspondence.

The Premier confirmed earlier in February that there was no public engagement in the development of the Pan-Territorial Framework for Sustainable Development. During my questioning earlier in this sitting, I made specific suggestions for improving our focus on the Arctic Policy Framework by taking a sustainability approach that includes environment, economy, culture, and social inclusion. Can the Minister explain whether the NWT chapter of the Arctic Policy Framework will take a balanced...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I appreciate the comments from the Minister. I am sure that a number of our citizens who are on income assistance might not agree with the Minister in terms of whether it is adequate. I realize it is $31 million of our budget, but maybe I will just cut this short. Is the Minister prepared to look at some sort of scheduled review of income assistance rates as he does for the minimum wage? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. In my statement earlier today I noted the extensive public engagement undertaken by Mary Simon as the Ministerial Special Representative on Arctic Leadership. I understand that she actually met with our Premier as well. I am wondering: can the Premier tell us what he talked about when he met with Ms. Simon in her work as Ministerial Special Representative on Arctic Leadership? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate the response from the Minister. I certainly understand that income assistance is sort of the place of last resort, but I am a bit perturbed to hear that the Minister says he does not know what triggers a review. If the Minister does not know, who does know? Are reviews done every five years, every 10 years, 30 years? Is there a regular review cycle? Maybe I will start with that, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. So, as I understand it, within income assistance there is some provision for cost of food, cost of clothing and so on. For any of those sorts of components, is there any provision in here for an increase in any of those parts of income assistance? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Well, I guess I am concerned that we are continuing to cut if the results of the study seem to indicate that there are no costs savings. So, at the end of the day, the district education authorities are going to be left with less money to work with. That is not what I had hoped from this budget, but I think this is just part of the Cabinet's reduction strategy again, and I do not agree with this cut. I do not expect a response from the Minister. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, that is what I had, and I appreciate the Minister's answers, and I look forward to that discussion paper very soon. Thanks.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Once that directive is sorted out, one of the potential outcomes is to change the formula to include JK students? Is that what I am hearing from the Minister? Thanks, Mr. Chair.