Tom Beaulieu

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, the students between grades 1 and 9 in the Northwest Territories, in small, aboriginal communities are missing a lot of school. Right now, about 20 percent, or 900 students across the Territory, aboriginal students, are missing 20 percent of the classes and 500 of those 900 are operating below grade level. Forty percent of those aboriginal students are missing… I’m sorry. Two hundred and eighty students, or 40 percent are missing more than 40 percent of their class and 80 percent of them are functioning below grade level...

I’m assuming that’s to try to get the people in the small communities prepared for employment. I’m wondering if the staff are fully aware of what the employment possibilities are in the communities they serve, considering that the high school diploma rate in small communities is also in the 40 percent range.

Mahsi cho, Mr .Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about two friends who recently passed away in Fort Resolution. Raymond Beck Jr. Passed away on Christmas Day 2009. He was 47 years old. He is survived by his mother, Doris; daughter, Chantel; brothers. Stanley, Roger, Arthur and Eric; and sisters, Barb, Verda, Della and Rebecca. He is predeceased by his father, Raymond Beck Sr.

Mr. Speaker, there was Delores Beaulieu, who was known as Dee Dee, who passed away just now, January 22nd. She was just 41 years old. She is survived by her parents...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I guess just a few very general comments I’d like to make. In my travel to my constituency, I had an opportunity to ask health professionals what they felt was the number one cause of the high cost of health care in the NWT, and from the nurses’ perspective, from what I’m told, the number one cause of the high cost of health care in the NWT is alcohol.

I know that a few years back, there was some sort of health reform that was presented by this government, by the GNWT, I should say. It wasn’t this government, but there was some sort of health reform where...

I guess just a little bit more background to put a context of what I’m referring to here. Employment income in a place like Lutselk’e is 2.5 times lower than the average employment income in a place like Yellowknife. Are the staff fully equipped -- actually, and I’m wondering about the staff’s abilities here -- to deal with the employment needs in the small communities?

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment in the area of employment. The employment rates in the small communities such as Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e are in the 40 percent range. This basically means that of people between 15 and 65, less than half of them are working in those communities. The employment rate in Yellowknife is around 80 percent.

I want to ask the Minister what he plans to do about the employment rates and low incomes in small communities, as it appears to be the responsibility of the Department of Education, Culture...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The cases of income support, on an average basis, are eight times higher in the smaller communities than it is in Yellowknife. Does the department do any work with potential employees to actively try to match people who are seeking employment and to get off income support and go to work in these smaller communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Would the Minister look at changing the unearned and earned income exemptions so that there is an incentive for individuals to go to work as opposed to what appears to be a bit of a disincentive? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today in my Member’s statement I spoke about the Income Support Program. I have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on the Income Support Program.

Mr. Speaker, the Income Support Program should be delivered with the concept of putting people to work. I’d like to ask the Minister what is in the program that encourages people to go to work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I think the review of the Income Support Program didn’t achieve desired results. I would like to ask the Minister if he could commit to reviewing the program with an emphasis on employment and using the idea of income support person going to work as a key component to the program. I was wondering if the Minister could commit to looking at that again. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.