Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I talked about the Education, Culture and Employment programs for small communities, the Employment Support Program. I have questions for the Minister of ECE on that Member’s statement.
Can the Minister tell me if the Small Community Employment Support Program -- I think there are three programs tied together -- has been rolled out to the communities yet? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. There was funding allocated for up to $925,000 for 2011-2012 under the Small Community Employment Support Program, which is specifically for small communities that can access this funding. It is out there for the communities to access. The program has been very successful in the past year. We’ve had in 2010, $350,000 which has been increased by the recommendations of the committee.
Mr. Speaker, this is an excellent program that community organizations can access as well.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell me if there are actual increases and individuals hired in the small communities as a result of this program? Thank you.
I don’t have the actual stats per community, but I can certainly look up the Member’s riding to see if there’s been any increase from last year to this year due to the funding increase. I can provide that information to the Member and also other Members if they are interested in the information. Mahsi.
Can the Minister tell me if this government is ensuring that the Employment Support Program is being delivered at the community level? Not regional level or YK, but actually delivered at the community level. Thank you.
That is the overall plan, to have the funding allocated to the communities. That’s been specified. As of July 2011 there’s been a commitment of just over $521,818 transferred to five regions and on to the communities. So it is a commitment of this government to allocate the funding to the communities so the community organizations can access the funding. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final supplementary, Mr. Beaulieu.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell me why the client service officers that are already located in the small communities don’t deliver the program as opposed to using the career development officers, which are mainly in the larger communities? They are in some small communities, but mainly in the larger communities. I just want to know why the client service officers would not be able to deliver this program. Thank you.
The client service officers deliver different roles and responsibilities in communities; more specifically on a subsidy program, client service officers, income security programs, benefits and services into the communities, comprehensive integrated services on individual clients.
The career development officers basically focus on careers, building a positive and effective relationship with key partners, coordinating career development opportunities. Those are some of the key differences between those two roles. Mr. Speaker, we do have a career development officer from the region that visits the two communities in the Member’s riding and we will continue to improve in those areas. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
