Mr. Speaker, would the Department of ECE perhaps consider increasing income support allocations in the small communities?
The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has recently increased our income security program to meet the needs of the community — the demands of the high cost of living in the community: the clothing, the food, the shelter. So we did increase in that area. That is one area that has been highlighted from our previous visit to the communities. So that has been initiated.
That was quick, Mr. Minister. Thank you.
Would the government, perhaps the Minister of ECE, consider setting the task force to study homelessness in the smaller communities?
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. We are going into a different line of questioning here. I will allow the Minister to answer. Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. To deal with the isolated small communities, those particularly without road access, we do provide funding for shelters or programming, and certainly my department can work with the Member to highlight what we have done, what we have currently in the program. I can certainly assist with those communities based on their needs to deal with homelessness. So we do have programs available for that.
Supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have none at this time.
