Debates of October 14, 2004 (day 20)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on the Income Support program in relation to persons with permanent disabilities. Mr. Speaker, as you are well aware, persons with permanent disabilities receive an enhanced benefit through the Income Support program for their permanent disability. I just wanted to ask the Minister if he and his department have taken into consideration any available option of creating a program that is separate from an alternative to the Income Support program for people with permanent handicaps in the NWT, so it would not be considered as an enhanced benefit in the Income Support program? I have a really hard time with a person with a permanent disability receiving something that’s supposed to be enhanced. Can the Minister give me some clarification on that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 217-15(3): Income Support For Persons With Permanent Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The intent is to recognize that some people face different challenges. In order to accommodate that, the benefits can’t be the same for everybody. That’s why the program has been set up as it is. Most jurisdictions in Canada provide some kind of additional benefit for people with challenges or disabilities, so we have taken the same sort of approach. All of our programs are provided under the wings of the Income Support program. All of our programs provide support to people. For instance, the Seniors’ Fuel Subsidy is an Income Support program. Student Financial Assistance is an Income Support program. That’s where all of our programs where we provide assistance to individuals are housed. I am not sure how we can separate part of it because we are convinced that the best way to administer programs that provide support to individuals is to house them in one area, so that we have the same people dealing with the same sorts of issues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 217-15(3): Income Support For Persons With Permanent Disabilities

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. So if we have disabled people in that family who are receiving income assistance, their disqualifications are carried through because of a family member who has been disqualified from income assistance under a different program. So I don’t think it’s really fair that anybody with a disabled family member with a permanent disability be dinged twice for them making some ends meet over the year and making a bit of money to help their disabled family members. All of a sudden, Income Support is cutting off all family members from Income Support throughout the whole program for anybody in the family. I would like some clarification on why the revision was made to the eligibility requirement in the program regulations. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 217-15(3): Income Support For Persons With Permanent Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member sounds like he might be talking about a specific situation. Perhaps it would be best if we could get to the bottom of this by meeting and reviewing the circumstances around that situation. I’d be happy to commit to doing that with the Member if he would like to meet with me outside so we can discuss this specific file or family.

In terms of the program, the Member is right; it is set up so it recognizes the income that comes into the household. That’s done in order to live with the philosophy that we all must first rely on our families before we start to look to government for support. It supports the government’s objective of independent people in the Northwest Territories. There are always reasons to take a look at individual circumstances, so, again, I would be prepared to meet with the Member and see if there are some extenuating circumstances involved in the issue he’s looking at right now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 217-15(3): Income Support For Persons With Permanent Disabilities

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 Severely Handicapped program, in the applicant’s responsibilities to the eligibility requirements there are only four bullets. Basically, on the disability and enhanced benefit of the Income Support, the first bullet states that the client must have a severe disability that substantially limits their ability to earn a living.

Mr. Speaker, I think that criteria right there speaks for itself. I don’t think that people with severe disabilities or handicaps should have to go through the other six or seven bullets that really don’t have any real significance to the whole program. This government is supposedly trying to create an atmosphere of independent living and sustainability. Maybe the Minister could just elaborate on why there is such a big list of eligibility criteria for persons with severe handicaps. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 217-15(3): Income Support For Persons With Permanent Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to review that listing of criteria and take a look at those bullets and see if they remain appropriate. I think it’s important to remember that our basic Income Support program provides better support to individuals than does the Alberta program. So AISH doesn’t come near what we provide in the basic program, let alone what we offer in the enhanced program. I would be happy, though, to review those criteria. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. One short, final supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 217-15(3): Income Support For Persons With Permanent Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just on that last point. It’s good that the Minister stated that our program offers a little bit more monetary value to the clients, I guess, but basically there is no assurance that clients are going to receive this disability benefit every month based on the regulations and policies set out in the Income Support program. In the Alberta model, it’s assured income. Regardless of other family members' incomes, it states that if you are severely handicapped…

Do you have a question, Mr. Villeneuve?

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

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 217-15(3): Income Support For Persons With Permanent Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will review the Alberta program and our program and I believe that our program is substantially better, but if it’s found wanting I’ll certainly respond back to the Member and take a look at what we can do to address any inequities. Thank you.