Thank you, Mr. Ningark. We have a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Recommendation 14. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. We have a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Page 28. The chair recognizes Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Member for Natilikmiot. We have a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. The chair recognizes Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. To the motion. The chair recognizes Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. To the motion. The chair recognizes Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A number of the Members of the committee were of the opinion that this was a program that was needed by a number of people in the Northwest Territories. I think the committee would have probably been in favour of a mandatory program, but it has to do with the Charter of Rights -- I believe -- making that kind of program mandatory.

We can't refuse to provide social assistance to people. I think what we can do is try and make sure that this sort of program is made readily available to them and that all encouragement is provided for them to take the program, if the need is demonstrated. But, I believe we would be contravening the Canadian law if we tried to make such a program mandatory.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. To the motion. Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Chairman, in general terms, I agree with the motion we have in front of us. But I don't think it is going to work if the previous motion is not adopted by the government, that, "Regulations must be changed to allow people on social assistance to receive a greater portion of money earned through economic activity."

This is additional revenue that they may receive. Currently, our system doesn't give the recipient encouragement to make more money. Even if it is carving money, bingo winnings or a gift, it has to be reported as income. That's where we're having problems. When the recipients are trying to get ahead of the game through the winning of bingo or a game of chance of some sort, then it has to be recorded as income for that particular month.

A lot of recipients do use the extra money they get for essential things, like repairs to snowmobiles so the family can go hunting, et cetera. The current regulations don't allow this. Until the government changes its regulations, it may be more appropriate for the recipients to take this money and budget management program. If the regulations stay the same, then the only money they'll be able to budget and manage would be the money they receive from social assistance. That money is based on a formula through the social assistance program.

It is basically a little budget already. It tells you how much you're going to get for clothing, for food et cetera. They already have a little budget. In a lot of cases, a number of people expend it all in one shot. They don't budget properly. That's why I think the committee has suggested that this particular program be suggested to the government. Mr. Chairman, that concludes my remarks pertaining to this particular motion.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. The chair recognizes Mr. Antoine. We have two minutes left.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Mr. Dent.

No, Mr. Chairman, we didn't get a legal opinion. It was the opinion of the Members of the committee and we did have the experience of former Ministers of the department, on the committee.