Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government is working in concert with the federal government to attract new Canadians to Yellowknife. It’s not surprising that newcomers will need help in orientation and service to make a successful transition, settle down and hopefully become residents. Unfortunately, recently the ECE immigrant settlement coordinator position became vacant, leaving people at a loss. The federal government, though, has an immigration officer in Yellowknife who, funnily enough, will not accept inquiries from the public, again leaving immigrants without a source of guidance and support. Not what we’re looking for, Mr. Speaker.
I’d like to ask the Minister of ECE how is it possible that the one federal person in town could refuse to deal with the clients that are here because of the federal/territorial program we put in place? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This is an area that we need to find out what’s happening. We did have a position in place but now it’s vacant. There is a toll-free number that people can access. We did send out notices and e-mails to all the relevant stakeholders to notify them that this is the contact information, contact person. So the information is out there, Mr. Speaker, but I will find out the situation about the concern that’s been brought to our attention. Mahsi.
I appreciate the Minister’s comments and information that some mitigation is happening here. My understanding is that immigrants can’t even get past security to visit the federal immigration officer on matters on immigrant settlement support. Until we re-staff our position, this person is obviously the sole source of knowledge on settlement support programs. Until this position is re-staffed, will the Minister call upon our federal partners to fill in and let people past the front door of the Greenstone Building to seek the support they obviously need? Thank you.
Yes, we will consult with our colleagues at the federal level and see what the status is on the situation. We need to rectify the problem. If there’s an issue, then we need to follow through with it. So I will follow up with our federal counterparts. Mahsi.
Thank you very much for that commitment from the Minister. That’s good work. I want to state, too, that I realize that this has happened fairly suddenly without much notice on the part of the person in the position. I also understand that the recent incumbent, however, may have resigned because the workload was too much and the office couldn’t keep up with the demand. Given our special effort to attract new Canadians to our communities, we must, in good faith, give people the support they obviously need and want in order to become residents. Being a year now, will the Minister commit to reporting to the committee on this matter so we can assess program success and needs? Mahsi.
This particular position, I need to gather more information from the college itself because this is a college position. I will take the opportunity to meet with the standing committee if they wish to do so. My office is always open to briefing the committee members. I will gather this information. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Your final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m happy to visit with the Minister further about this. I’m not sure it’s a college position. I guess given that people are left hanging right now, can I trust that the Minister will be in touch with our federal partners quite soon on this to fill that need? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the question has been asked in the House. I did commit to it, so we’ll follow through as soon as possible with the federal counterparts. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
