Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on my recent trip home this past weekend constituents of Tuktoyaktuk have asked me about the Income Support Program and productive choices options in the community. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment has been very strict and narrow in their interpretation of what constitutes productive choices in the community. For example, many clients, some who are on medication or are elders, have to physically go out into the community and actively seek productive choice options. Mr. Speaker, that’s very limited in the community of Tuk with a limited number of qualified local organizations.
Mr. Speaker, many concerns deal mainly with issues with what has not been explained by case workers to their clients. I understand if a client does not ask for a certain type of assistance, Mr. Speaker, the officer must make the client aware of the offer of assistance to the client. I’m aware of the people getting evicted in my community and having no food in their fridges. Mr. Speaker, that begs the question whether the clients know how to ask for an Income Support Program and what the real options might be. For example, in a remote community, clients don’t know if they can appeal the case workers’ decision and that the case worker must assist them with that appeal process. That’s not happening.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to re-examine ways for the Income Support Program that might be improved to better serve those who most need assistance in the communities. Thank you. I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
