Debates of February 6, 2024 (day 2)

February
6
2024
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
2
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Jay MacDonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Mrs. Yakelaya.
Assembly Members
Topics
Member’s Statement 19-20(1): Condolences to Fort Smith
Member’s Statement 20-20(1): Condolences to Fort Smith
Member’s Statement 21-20(1): Challenges for 20th Assembly
Member’s Statement 22-20(1): Addictions
Member’s Statement 23-20(1): Condolences to Fort Smith
Member’s Statement 24-20(1): Funding for Non-Governmental Organizations
Member’s Statement 25-20(1): Regional Director Position in Inuvik
Member’s Statement 26-20(1): Response to Housing NWT Motion on March 8, 2022
Member’s Statement 27-20(1): Evacuation and Impact on Unhoused Population
Member’s Statement 28-20(1): Lack of Family Doctors in the Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 29-20(1): Fort Smith Tragedy
Member’s Statement 30-20(1): Hay River Community Spirt Awards
Member’s Statement 31-20(1): Kole Crook Fiddle Association Annual Fiddle Jamboree
Minister’s Statement 1-20(1): Sessional Statement
Minister’s Statement 2-20(1): Minister Absent from the House
Motion 7-20(1): Amend Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Standing Committee
Motion 7-20(1): Amend Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Standing Committee, Carried
Motion 8-20(1): Appointment of the Deputy Speaker
Motion 8-20(1): Appointment of the Deputy Speaker, Carried
Motion 9-20(1): Establishing a Public Inquiry into the 2023 Wildfires
Question 1-20(1): Ministerial Mandate Statements
Question 10-20(1): Evacuation Travel Support Program
Question 11-20(1): Home Heating Subsidy for Elders
Question 2-20(1): Carbon Pricing and Home Heating
Question 3-20(1): Implementation of the Recommendations of Strengthening Support for Non Profit Sector
Question 4-20(1): Regional Director Position
Question 5-20(1): Income Assistance Program for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities
Question 6-20(1): Addictions Facilities
Question 7-20(1): Exposure of Vulnerable Population to Risk in 2023 Evacuations
Question 8-20(1): Evacuation Travel Support Program Payments
Question 9-20(1): Home Heating Rebates
Tabled Document 11-20(1): Northwest Territories Ombud Special Report on Recommendations for Amendments to the Ombud Act
Tabled Document 12-20(1): 2022-2023 Public Accounts, Sections i, ii, iii, and IV
Tabled Document 5-20(1): Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Standing Committee Terms of Reference
Tabled Document 6-20(1): Open Letter from Yellowknife Women’s Society Board of Directors following the Yellowknife Evacuation Experience
Statements

Question 5-20(1): Income Assistance Program for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

In August of 2023, there was an announcement that the GNWT would improve the income assistance program and introduce income assistance program for seniors and persons with disabilities. And I'm wondering if the Minister can provide a status update of that work today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Minister of ECE.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member for the question. There was a lot of excitement in August when this announcement was made and, unfortunately, these changes to the programs have been delayed due to some systems issues that are outside the department's control, and we're currently working with the Department of Finance to resolve these. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for that. Do we have an idea of which of the programs would be implemented first? Would it be the one that was deemed complete in August? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, we were able to make some changes over at Education, Culture and Employment in 2023. At that time, we were able to do some exempting of income. That included monies from selfgovernment agreements, treaty agreements, land claim agreements, and impact benefit agreements. That also included compensation from residential school settlements, Indian Day School settlements, and 60s Scoop settlements. Also monies received on behalf of Jordan's Principle and Inuit Child First Initiative and agricultural benefits from Indigenous governments, as well as some other monies from Indigenous governments as approved by the director. The piece beyond this that is being held up are the changes to all of the systems as far as increases to the financial benefits that are based on the northern basket measures and including removing the productive choices. However, I can say that while the productive choices are still required by income assistance, they are no longer reported monthly. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Member from Mackenzie Delta.