Robert Villeneuve

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know they are all under the Income Support program and under the one department, but many people with these permanent disabilities are in households with other people who are under different Income Assistance programs. In a revision in July 8, 2002, in the eligibility requirements of the Income Support program, it states for the purposes of clarity if either the head of the household or spouse and family is disqualified for any valid reason under the regulations and policies of the Income Assistance program, the disqualifications extend to the family...

Mahsi, Members. This decision was also reinforced by the silver lining of the whole experience that Chief Catholique offered later in the evening in that the oral history of the Lady of the Falls says that if you go to seek help from the Lady of the Falls, then your prayers will be better received and answered if only one spends the night at the falls, which many visitors heed that advice to this day. With that, Mr. Speaker, I am thankful that my prayers were answered by having the Lady of the Falls, along with some of the assistance of the Lutselk’e band manager, Irvin Norn, in keeping my...

...(inaudible)…benefit. I’m just wondering why this government is any different. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad to meet with the Minister to discuss some of the clients that have brought this matter to my attention.

Just on another note, Mr. Speaker, with regard to some of the applicant responsibilities in reference to their permanent handicap. In our Income Support program, the disability allowance is classified as an enhanced benefit. Our clients must meet -- and it states very clearly -- all of the following criteria to qualify for this allowance of $300 a month. There are eight bullets in those criteria. In the Alberta program, which is the Assured Income to the...

Thank you. …so that these positive changes can be realized at the grassroots where many residents have become too complacent about what the role and responsibilities are of this government and why the system of program delivery has grown quite cumbersome and confusing in some areas, resulting in a loss of trust by residents in our system of government.

Mr. Speaker, I hope I and my colleagues will make this a priority during this 15th Legislative Assembly; to make these and other positive changes happen so that we can all benefit in the long term. Thank you.

---Applause

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Let me just start off by sending my greetings out to my constituents in Tu Nedhe. Let me say it’s nice to be back in the House and I look forward to working on some of the many issues and concerns that have been brought to my attention by my constituents, residents of the NWT and Canada.

Mr. Speaker, as you and my colleagues are well aware the political landscape of Canada has gone through some significant changes over the past few months and, thanks to the diligent and persistent work of our leadership, we as northerners have an enormous opportunity to make great...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize two of my staunch supporters from Tu Nedhe. They are my mom, Terry Villeneuve; my sister Anita; and I believe my dad is outside for a smoke break.

---Laughter

---Applause

I seek unanimous consent from the Members to continue my statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the program is basically designed to run for 24 to 48 months and not guaranteeing jobs at the senior level when they complete the program. I have received some information from what I would term eligible candidates for the program that in the second round of selections, many of these applicants that have submitted applications to the first round of participants in the program are basically taking the attitude now that they will not apply for the second round of program eligibility due to the fact that they, and I quote, a lot of them say “why bother because we...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure which Minister to direct this question to because I am not sure what department the management assignment program falls under. But since all the applications do go to the corporate human resource services office, I guess that would be under the offices of the Executive. So let me ask the Premier what the new management assignment program that the government is currently undertaking, which comprises a two-phase assessment component to find some eligible participants that are willing to complete the program. I just want to ask the Premier who is on this...