Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to follow up on my Member’s statement regarding community economies. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Here in the Northwest Territories, in the Mackenzie Valley, whether we live up north, whether in the south, west or eastern part of the Northwest Territories we call this our home. We live in small, remote communities, regional centres and, of course, we live in big cities like Yellowknife.
My question is: Does Education, Culture and Employment adapt its employment programs to each community’s needs, and if so, how is that done?
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Member did talk about the income security in the communities, and part of the program is to assess those individuals that could pursue productive choices at the community level. We also have a small employment program, as well, a subsidy to the employer so they can hire community members. It’s been very successful to date and we will continue to address that. There’s also a Labour Market Agreement and Labour Market Development as well. That funding is allocated for training, skill development, self-employment, work experience and so forth, youth employment. That information I can share with the Members. Mahsi.
I would like to thank the Minister for his response. My question was whether the department would perhaps maybe modify or else customize its approach in terms of trying to create employment in communities, because not all communities are the same. We have, of course, different demographics in different regional centres in different communities. My question, once again: Does the department adapt its employment programs in circumstances of each community that is normally different? Mahsi.
Through the Department of Education, Culture and Employment we have regional representatives, regional employees at the community level, and we collaborate with other departments, as well, whether it be the superintendents working with the career development officers or PWS and ENR. Each department has their own mandate, their own initiatives on how or where those individual positions should be based, which community or region. Within our ECE department we target each region, each community where those positions should lie, what kind of position it should be, the skills and so forth, and creating more opportunities in that area. We will continue to do that. I’ve touched on certain programs that we need to promote more of those into the communities. Mahsi.
My final question is directed in terms of some of the agreements, the labour market agreements with, say, the ASETS program, which has served the Deh Cho region for some time. I want to know what kind of efforts the department is making to ensure that those agreements are renewed and working in the best interests of the North. Mahsi.
I’m glad the Member raised that issue. It’s a very valid point. There are agreements in place with the Deh Cho and other regions as well. There are some changes through the federal government, whether it be ASEP versus ASETS and we also have the Labour Market Development Agreement and also the Labour Market Agreement that I’ve highlighted. It’s a separate entity but we continue to support those individual organizations and members.
The Member referred to an agreement that is in place. We know that there is a sunset clause but we need to coordinate together with the community. It is at a federal level and we will continue to push from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and GNWT perspective. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
