This is page numbers 549 - 579 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was education.

Topics

Further Return To Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 564

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The rent scale will be based on a percentage of the gross income of people in the units. But there are some things that are exempt from the rent scale. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Ms. Mike, supplementary.

Supplementary To Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

For the record, I would like to know what percentage of the household income that is.

Supplementary To Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It starts off with the very low end. The minute you go to work and you make any money, you automatically pay 25 per cent of your gross income. Even if you made $400, you would have to pay 25 per cent of that for rent.

Under the new scale, it starts off at six per cent and it gradually increases. The more money you make, the higher the percentage. It will never go higher than a maximum of 30 per cent of your gross income. Built into that, if you are going to be taking training or going to school, that part is not being assessed. It is the same if you are on a disability pension, social assistance or any type of pension, you will not be assessed. As well if you were on UIC, you would not be assessed, but I will have to double check that.

Also there is a cost of living adjustment. For different communities, there is a different cost of living. The more children you have who are dependent on you, there is that adjustment as well. There is also an adjustment for the condition rating of the unit. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 564

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Final supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Supplementary To Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 564

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the cost of living aspect, would that include the recent increase of gasoline?

Supplementary To Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 564

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Morin.

Further Return To Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 564

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The cost of living adjustment is what was agreed to. We took the MACA cost of living and another cost of living and combined the two. The Advisory Committee on Social Housing came up with it because people were requesting a cost of living adjustment. So I would be pleased to get that information for the Member of what the cost of living adjustment is in every community and a full package. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Question 296-12(7): Rationale For Changes To Social Housing Rent Scale
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister responsible for the FMBS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Premier gave a reply with respect to procedures for verifying GNWT candidates' credentials for positions. She stated that credentials are verified for certain professional positions such as nurses, lawyers and teachers, and the job offers for the positions are conditional upon membership with the particular association. I am wondering, Mr. Speaker, whether the Minister would consider amending the requirement to allow for verification of social workers, particularly when you take into account the possibility of anyone who should possess a social work degree in order to work with children of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of the Financial Management Board, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 297-12(7): Verification Of GNWT Employee Credentials
Question 297-12(7): Verification Of GNWT Employee Credentials
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 564

John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, I believe there is something in place. However, I will check and if there isn't, I will put something in place; that there be a requirement for a certain level of training and expertise verified by some paperwork in these particular instances. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 297-12(7): Verification Of GNWT Employee Credentials
Question 297-12(7): Verification Of GNWT Employee Credentials
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Whitford.

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question I would like to direct to the Minister of Justice. Some time ago, Mr. Speaker, there was some talk about the federal government instituting -- if you can use that word -- maximum security

facilities in the Northwest Territories in order to repatriate some northern people who are in maximum security institutions in southern Canada. In the last little while, we haven't heard much about that. I am just wondering if this is still on the back burner or if the idea even exists any more.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 298-12(7): Status Of Maximum Secure Facility For Nwt
Question 298-12(7): Status Of Maximum Secure Facility For Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The discussions with Corrections Services Canada are ongoing at this time. They are still interested in looking at the benefits of transferring minimum security inmates from the Northwest Territories who are serving time down south to look at the benefits of the federal government returning them to the Northwest Territories under the care and custody of the Government of the Northwest Territories. We need to look at that series of arrangements that might provide some cost benefits, that could also benefit the facilities and services we run. We need to look at what kind of benefits it could bring to the inmates by bringing them closer to home and perhaps offering more relevant cultural programs. The discussions are still ongoing with the federal government in that regard. Thank you.

Return To Question 298-12(7): Status Of Maximum Secure Facility For Nwt
Question 298-12(7): Status Of Maximum Secure Facility For Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary To Question 298-12(7): Status Of Maximum Secure Facility For Nwt
Question 298-12(7): Status Of Maximum Secure Facility For Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recognize that these things take time because there are many factors to be considered, as the Minister pointed out. Talks can go on for so long and I am sure there must be some target date to which we could aim to say we have concluded our talks and research into it. Are there any target dates we could look forward to?

Supplementary To Question 298-12(7): Status Of Maximum Secure Facility For Nwt
Question 298-12(7): Status Of Maximum Secure Facility For Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 565

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 298-12(7): Status Of Maximum Secure Facility For Nwt
Question 298-12(7): Status Of Maximum Secure Facility For Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 565

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, the talks could go on endlessly unless we decide that we want some resolution to the talks fairly quickly. I will check with my officials and ask that they give us some targets so we can come to some conclusions in our discussions with the federal government. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 298-12(7): Status Of Maximum Secure Facility For Nwt
Question 298-12(7): Status Of Maximum Secure Facility For Nwt
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to go back to the subject of the northern library of the archives. I didn't use my final supplementary, so I have left it in the air, Mr. Speaker. In light of the fact that what he has within his ministry is considered to be a world-class library by many visitors who come here, would he get a full briefing from his staff to learn what the impact would be if we take away a librarian who is familiar with the collection and can answer questions, so that we can deal with this item when it comes up in the budget with the full understanding of what the implications are? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 299-12(7): Briefing On Prince Of Wales Northern Heritage Centre Library
Question 299-12(7): Briefing On Prince Of Wales Northern Heritage Centre Library
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 565

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be only too happy to do that. I understand the concern of the honourable Member and we will do everything possible, if not today when we are dealing with the budget, to respond positively to the concern the honourable Member has raised.