Question.
Question has been called.
---Carried
Mr. Yakeleya.
Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment clarify program requirements for productive choices in its guidance to client service officers and clearly communicate them. Regional managers should also monitor compliance with productive choice requirements and take corrective action where necessary. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called.
---Carried
Mr. Nadli.
Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment undertake a complete evaluation of the productive choice component of the Income Assistance program as a priority, that the evaluation involve the community leadership and residents, and the department provide options for change in their productive choices component of Income Assistance to the Standing Committee on Social Programs within the life of the 17th Assembly. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called.
---Carried
Ms. Bisaro.
Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that in accordance with its program requirements, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment should review a selection of income security files periodically, to ensure that clients receive benefits to which they are entitled. The department should establish a framework to identify files to audit, based on predetermined criteria. Results should be reported to the director of income security annually.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called.
---Carried
Mr. Moses.
Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment identifies income assistance overpayments, it should comply with the Financial Administration Manual requirements for collecting them. It should follow collection procedures by issuing invoices and written notifications per the required schedule, and forward outstanding debts to the Department of Finance for collection when required. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called.
---Carried
Mr. Yakeleya.
Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment should modify its management of student loans to ensure that identification of student loans due for repayment does not rely solely on students' notification or manual review by the officials. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called.
---Carried
Mr. Nadli.
Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment formalize current and future competency-based training programs for client service officers and student case officers, and should identify and provide core training so officers can attain and maintain the competencies their jobs require. The department should also ensure that staff members receive regular training updates, to ensure that they fully understand Income Security Program requirements. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I know this is one of the really important, they are all important, but this one was key in terms of delivering a good quality service to our public that the Auditor General spoke to. I really very much appreciate all the work of this committee on all of these recommendations coming forward, a really good piece of work here.
The thing I hear most frequently from clients and from non-government organizations that often support and assist them in gaining access to government services is the lack of dignity. It is very unusual to find anybody who chooses to be in these unfortunate situations and have to go looking for assistance. When they do, they are very vulnerable people. That can make a huge difference in their lives in so many other ways. Several of these motions have dealt with this, making the office welcoming as well as safe and so on. I just want to bring that up.
I know that the Minister is well aware of this and working on this as we speak, but it has been brought forward very clearly here by committee and I support this. Mahsi.
To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called.
---Carried
Ms. Bisaro.
Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment report its Income Assistance client survey results annually as a performance measure in the departmental business plan. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called.
---Carried
Mr. Moses.
Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment establish targets and outcome measures that align with the overall objective for its income security programs; review the data it currently collects on income security programs, to ensure it has the data required to measure whether targets and outcomes are being met; and develop a plan to identify when it will evaluate its programs, to determine if the objective of those income security programs is being met. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. The motion is in order. To the motion.
