Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On October 6th, I informed this Assembly about the release of the federal discussion paper, Improving Social Security in Canada, and I referred Members to our own discussion paper, Creating Choices: Solving the Income Support Puzzle, which was released for public comment last July. I will be tabling our discussion paper later today.
As you know, income support reform is a complex issue which is being considered across Canada. To make sure that this reform proceeds in a way which respects the priorities and needs of northerners, we have developed four principles to guide us. In our paper, Creating Choices, we said that income support reform must:
1. link jobs and training, and encourage people to make responsible choices;
2. respect northern culture, community direction and the integrity of families;
3. make the best use of available money and federal cost-sharing opportunities; and,
4. be fair and easily accessible by people in the communities.
Since the release of our paper last July, we have been researching social security programs in Canada, and have been consulting with our partners in Health and Social Services, Executive, Renewable Resources, Finance and the NWT Housing Corporation.
The House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources Development is undertaking cross-Canada consultations on social security reform, and is planning a number of town hall meetings. The Secretary of State for training and youth, the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew is already travelling in the north and social security reform is on her agenda. Ms. Blondin-Andrew will be consulting northerners specifically on social assistance issues as related to the aboriginal community.
Madam Speaker, these consultations need to be coordinated with this government's discussions on income support reform. I have written to the Honourable Lloyd Axworthy and stated that consultation on this critical reform initiative must be undertaken as a joint process, and that this government needs to be fully involved in any consultations in this area.
Consultations that are taking place with the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew need to be aligned with this government's consultations. I have advised Mr. Axworthy that northerners are eager to express their views on income security reform and that these views must be heard. I further advised him that I would be planning to attend these town hall meetings and that some of my honourable colleagues in the Legislative Assembly would likely be interested in attending as well. I propose that the parliamentary standing committee meetings scheduled for Yellowknife and Iqaluit later this fall be held jointly with this government.
Madam Speaker, a consultation process that targets large southern constituencies and discusses largely southern issues will not suffice in the north. Consultation in the north will need to be a joint territorial/federal effort to ensure that northern social security reform has a made-in-the-north stamp on it. Therefore, I am proposing to this House that our government undertake the following consultation process with respect to income support reform.
I am proposing that a six-member Ministers' forum on income support reform be established in early November to provide advice to this government on reform and involve northerners in developing a northern agenda for change. This forum would include representatives from business, labour and individuals involved in social reform.
The forum would lead focus groups to be organized in the five regional centres to provide face to face information to people, involve community people in discussions and get first-hand public opinion and advice on the issues. The forum would conclude by providing its findings and recommendations for this Assembly at its February sitting. I further propose that a debate on social security reform be held early in the February sitting of the Assembly.
Madam Speaker, this highlights our proposed consultation strategy and the developments of income support reform. Mr. Speaker, we must continue to make every effort to ensure that this reform effort has a northern face. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause