Debates of May 23, 2024 (day 14)

May
23
2024
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
14
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay Macdonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Yakeleya
Assembly Members
Topics
Member’s Statement 155-20(1): Supporting Families with Disabilities
Member’s Statement 156-20(1): Liquor Tax
Member’s Statement 157-20(1): Mackenzie River Water Levels
Member’s Statement 158-20(1): Residents Affected by Enterprise Wildfire
Member’s Statement 159-20(1): Inadequate Housing in Mackenzie Delta
Member’s Statement 160-20(1): Health Care Workers
Member’s Statement 161-20(1): Aurora College
Member’s Statement 162-20(1): Hamlet of Fort Resolution Fire Plan
Member’s Statement 163-20(1): Carbon Tax
Member’s Statement 164-20(1): Education
Member’s Statement 165-20(1): Supports for Senior Citizens
Member’s Statement 166-20(1): Eulogy for Roy Joseph Mouse
Minister’s Statement 32-20(1): Mandate of the 20th Legislative Assembly
Minister’s Statement 33-20(1): Notice of Budget Address
Motion 26-20(1): Appointment of Ombud
Motion 26-20(1): Appointment of Ombud, Carried
Motion 27-20(1): Referral of Tabled Document 67-20(1): Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2023 to 2027, to Committee of the Whole
Oral Question 154-20(1): Status of Aurora College Transformation to Polytechnic University
Oral Question 155-20(1): Liquor Tax Regime
Oral Question 156-20(1): Carbon Tax
Oral Question 157-20(1): Affordability of Seniors Housing
Oral Question 158-20(1): Collaboration with Indigenous Governments on Mackenzie Delta Home Renovations
Oral Question 159-20(1): Adult Literacy in the Northwest Territories
Oral Question 160-20(1): Notices of Assessment Collection for Income Assistance Clients
Oral Question 161-20(1): Fuel Resupply for Northern Communities
Oral Question 162-20(1): Nurse to Patient Ratios
Oral Question 163-20(1): Supports Available for Residents of Enterprise
Oral Question 164-20(1): Supports Available for Hamlet of Fort Resolution
Return to Oral Question 62-20(1): Consultation with Members of the Legislative Assembly on Policies and Strategies
Return to Written Question 2-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Public Sector Positions
Return to Written Question 3-20(1): Extended Health Benefits Policy
Return to Written Question 4-20(1): Private Agency Nurses
Return to Written Question 5-20(1): Municpal Funding Gap
Tabled Document 71-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 152-20(1): Public Safety
Tabled Document 77-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 133-20(1): Policy on Indigenous Hiring
Tabled Document 85-20(1): Additional Information for Return to Written Question 4-20(1)
Tabled Document 86-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 12-20(1): Children’s First Society Funding
Tabled Document 88-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 105-20(1) and Oral Question 112-20(1): Municipal Funding Gap
Tabled Document 91-20(1): Speaking Up for Fairness – 2023/24 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Ombud
Statements

Member’s Statement 155-20(1): Supporting Families with Disabilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supporting families with disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, under the income assistance program, the GNWT requires applicants to provide proof of income which they can do through a notice of assessment provided by the Canada Revenue Agency. I have clients in my region who have filed their taxes with the federal government, and the GNWT has access to this information, but instead of the GNWT using the tools they have to access a client's CRA notice of assessment, they ask the client to provide the financial information.

Mr. Speaker, this unnecessary step is delaying the review of their file. While the income assistance office tries to gather all the paperwork they require from clients, the burden is put on the clients to provide information even when the GNWT has the ability to obtain the information itself quickly and easily.

Mr. Speaker, people are struggling to navigate the income assistance program. The level of information required is confusing. It is hard to locate documents and information. Clients who are trying to access income assistance have no time and resources to navigate this system. There seems to be a lack of trust and empathy between the clients and staff. While clients are trying to access the income assistance program, having meetings, phone calls, finding people to support them, and even translators, they still have to pay their bills. In some cases, these families are supporting children or elders with disability. Mr. Speaker, as you know, family who are supporting those with disabilities face extra hardship and challenges. Not only do they carry more stress, they face greater financial hardship.

The Minister has spoke in this House about the changes coming to the income assistance program, and these are good changes. But, Mr. Speaker, we need these changes today. While we wait for these changes, families are being left out, forgotten.

I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment today. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.