Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to continue with my questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Although a different department, if a child is under foster care, the foster home is provided with support for extracurricular activities. Clearly, there is a disparity when you start considering the standard of care for children. Under income support, if the family has any extra money or goes out to make extra money, it is clawed back and, finally, if somebody pays for a kid to go to hockey, if they are on it, if that family is on income support, that money is clawed back. If they don’t declare it, it is breach and they are treated like criminals for gosh sakes.
My question to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment is: Since 2007, when he assumed office, what changes has he made to income support as Minister by his direction, to improve the lives of children whose families are on income support? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Since I came to office in 2007, we have made some changes not only to income support but other programs as well. As you know, Education, Culture and Employment has a variety of programs under us, even under income support that can provide… There have been some additions; there have been some changes. I can provide that detailed list to the Member. Mahsi.
Although I am keenly interested in what those changes may have been, once again into the breach, I ask the question, what changes specifically have you made in income support that has helped families who are on income support, to help them support their children? Thank you.
Through various stages we make changes; we improve our programming; we change policies. In Student Financial Assistance or some other income support program, there have been numerous changes as well. Even in 2007, even though I may not have been the Minister, still the department was making changes. Even when I depart there will be another Minister making changes. So all in all, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment provides funding to all these children, either in school, after school, through various venues whether it be agencies or NGOs that we work closely with.
Again, I think there is up to four or five different strategies. Action plans will be oriented and part of the process, as well, part of the solution. We are looking forward to that. It is very exciting times. We want to make some changes and leave a legacy behind. Mahsi.
I’ll put it back to the Minister and say, I have heard four or five answers but not one to the question I asked. So, seeing how the Minister is convinced he can make changes, seeing as how the Minister is convinced he has made changes, what does the Minister believe can be made on this file by way of example, providing an opportunity for children who fall under the Income Support Program by giving them access to a pot of funding, be it as small as $500 per year to allow these children to take things like music, involved in the arts, or even get into extracurricular sports? Thank you.
The Member is referring to music or other sports. Some of these programs, their fees are waived. We know that some certain students cannot afford to be part of the program, so we work with, whether it be…(inaudible)…program, that is a federal program that allocates funding for these students that cannot afford certain sports programs. There are soccer programs, volleyball programs, there are all these different programs that the fees are waived as well.
Working closely with Municipal and Community Affairs, we are making this happen. We will continue to work with different agencies to continue to involve those students, less fortunate students, to be actively involved in sports, after-school programs and even during school programs. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We can talk about federal programs and we can talk about other programs that aren’t income support, so let’s get down to the facts, let’s get down to the brass tacks. Let’s say this right now. Is the Minister willing to, is he prepared to go back to his officials and instruct them to find a way to create a program that extends income support benefits that provides these opportunities that enrich children’s lives that they well deserve? We could do it today and we could help a lot of families that deserve these opportunities. Will the Minister be willing to do that, yes or no? Thank you.
Yes, we are part of the strategy for anti-poverty. We will continue to provide our resources through that strategy as well. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. I’m going to call a 15-minute break.
---SHORT RECESS
Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Mr. Nadli.
