Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Premier as Minister of the Executive. The first question I have is: I want to start by saying that I appreciate that the Premier has appointed the internal working group to begin examining the issue of poverty towards developing a framework for action. The suite of territorial participants at the recent summit unanimously concluded that the first step in attacking poverty must be development of a coordinated, cross-government and society approach. Has the Premier heard yet from this working group about these conclusions? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, I have not heard yet from the working group. Thank you.
Successful provincial anti-poverty strategies were developed under the guidance of representatives from across society, including people living in poverty, to guide the work. Recognizing that many of the dedicated groups doing this work off the sides of desks are already consumed with efforts on their respective mandates, will the Premier commit to providing initial funding for the steering committee to bring non-government organization poverty reps to the table with business and other partners as they develop the approaches required to move this initiative forward as per the conclusion of the workshop? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I’d have to look at the budget that we had set up for the work that’s being looked at. One of the other things is the fact we’re trying to be as inclusive as possible from around the whole Territory and have other people work with us as we move forward on the Anti-Poverty Strategy. I will have to look at the budget to see what is available. Thank you.
I think it was appreciated that members of the internal working group were there and they, clearly, participated in those unanimous conclusions. I’m sure the Premier is hearing from the working group about that.
Business is an essential partner at the table and they can contribute to the work and enjoy the rewards of both consumers and workers as noted. Will the Premier commit to assisting in the development of the steering committee towards bringing business to the table at the start of this work? Thank you.
We have started our discussion, following some questions by Members, around the makeup of that and are looking at including some of the business community as well as the Department of ITI. So we’ve started to have those discussions on bringing the business side in. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Your final supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Premier for that. I’m sure the conclusions of the workshop, again, will help address that as well.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, there is much work ahead, far more than can be achieved by the 16th Assembly. The time remaining to us will enable us to make a good start and to give the future Assembly what it needs to carry this forward. In what ways will the Premier ensure that efforts will include working collaboratively with the broadest representation of outside advocates to develop the framework for a strategy and its priority recommendation for continued development by the 17th Assembly? Mahsi.
The process we have established, the work that is being done, we’ll have to look at that, look at the inclusion of the business sector as well, trying to bring in as many of the groups from around the Territory as we do this work, and, of course, coming back to Members as a follow-up as we continue on in this process.
As the Member stated, in preparation for doing our work and leading up to what the 17th Assembly may be looking at or what they may implement, we will have to look at how we include this work in our transition work that’s going to happen. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
