Debates of March 31, 2004 (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Honourable Charles Dent, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment in regard to income support. Although RWED is mentioned in my opening remarks, it will relate to income support. RWED has a harvesters’ assistance program in the Beaufort-Delta region. My understanding of this program is to assist hunters and trappers to purchase equipment, et cetera, for their harvesting and wild game and subsistence use. The local HTAs administer the funds and decide who is eligible for assistance. This program has proven to be successful in that hunters and trappers are able to purchase equipment and to maintain their traditional pursuits, especially for those who cannot afford to purchase equipment, et cetera.

Mr. Speaker, recently I heard that income support workers in the Beaufort-Delta are including this as part of their calculation in income support when harvesters apply for income support. I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment if he’s aware that his department is penalizing some harvesters in receiving their income support payments because of the harvesters’ assistance program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 123-15(3): Income Support Program Impacting Trappers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was advised around noon, shortly before we began in the House today, that this was happening and asked whether or not it actually fit within the policy for income support. I am not able to answer that question right now. I have contacted the department and asked them to provide me with some advice on that.

Typically I do know that almost all forms of income that people receive are considered when the level of support from income support is being calculated. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 123-15(3): Income Support Program Impacting Trappers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Inuvialuit and also the Gwich’in in the Sahtu, in their land claim agreements, I know it doesn’t exempt them from certain income. I would like to ask the Minister if he’s aware of that and what will he do to relay this to the income support workers? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 123-15(3): Income Support Program Impacting Trappers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am aware that some forms of assistance that are provided subject to treaties are exempt from calculation when we’re examining how much support to provide somebody on income support, but it is specified sources. That income has to come from a specified source. I’m not sure if the payments to harvesters are specified, and I have asked the department to look into that and advise me. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 123-15(3): Income Support Program Impacting Trappers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Minister. Once you find out that information can you relay that information back to me, and also relay it to our income support worker? Thank you.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 123-15(3): Income Support Program Impacting Trappers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I only have one question today. It is in regard to the return to oral question by the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. He stated that significant change in housing or households would now be assessed rent. Mr. Speaker, members of our Seniors' Society should be and are concerned that this Assembly has not been made aware of any such shift in policy change where seniors' households will be assessed rent. I am going to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Seniors. Is he willing to help alleviate some of the fears that seniors' household incomes would be assessed based on a line in the reply? So I am going to ask the Minister responsible for Seniors if he has been dealing with the seniors’ societies. Thank you.

Minister responsible for seniors, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thought that was for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation and I didn’t follow the question. I apologize and ask the Member if he could restate the question.