This is page numbers 977 - 1013 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 chairman.

Further Return To Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you. When the Minister stated there will be a review of the student financial assistance program in the new fiscal year, Mr. Speaker, it has been brought to my attention and to the attention of other honourable Members, that some Arctic College students who passed, who wish to further their education, have experienced difficulty because the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is acting like the collection agency for Arctic College.

If money is owed to the college, and even if the student is eligible for education assistance, the students have difficulty receiving further assistance until the Arctic College account is clear. I would like to ask the Minister if this particular policy is going to be reviewed at the same time as the total student financial assistance program? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It certainly can be one of the issues raised in the review. However, I do want to advise honourable Members that one of the problems that we have encountered historically is the matter of financial resources owed to Arctic College or some other institutions. The fact is, collection agencies also request us to forward any resources or money paid out to individuals, including financial student assistance. It's not only a matter of our government collecting those resources. The fact is, we've been asked in some instances to collect on behalf of other organizations.

That's a factor which has to be dealt with with students as well. It's not simply a matter of us being a collection agency. We feel there is a need for us to deliver programs effectively and in support of students. But, at the same time, there is the issue of responsibility and accountability of students. It can be one of the issues that's addressed.

Further Return To Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 987

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the statement that I'm referring to was made on Monday, April 10th. The Minister stated that the Government of Canada, in announcing the new Canada social transfer has the intention to reduce spending in the social envelope; assistance to health, education and social assistance, by $7 billion.

I would like to ask the Minister, what are the implications of this statement to us here in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can advise the honourable Member that we have not yet identified all the implications. One of the reasons we have not done that is we have not got into formal negotiations with the federal government on the types of arrangements we would be prepared to accept in a regional agreement of block transfers. That work still has to be done. Part of the direction for our agreement will come from the advice given to us by the task force on income reform and recommendations from the standing committee on the issue of income support programs and services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Question 466-12(7): Reductions In Student Financial Assistance
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some time earlier this session, I asked the Minister of FMBS about students hired during summer break by the government. The response I got from the government was interesting: that they couldn't get away from paying students $18 per hour and more because of the collective agreement. Those are last year's rates, this year they are probably more.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister understands the situation very well, I believe. Our interest is to hire as many students as possible in small communities where there are very few jobs. Also, Mr. Speaker, the private sector cannot compete with the government in this area. They have to pay minimum wage, which I believe is between $5 to $7 per hour. I wonder if the government is working on finding ways, in the interest of hiring as many students as possible for summer break, to allow that to happen? Is the government working on policies or finding out ways to get away from the collective agreement for casual workers? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Chairman of the Financial Management Board, Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, as I said to Mr. Patterson last week, in 1992 there were 416 placements of students; in 1993, 668; and, in 1994, 785, so we are managing to place more students, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm well aware of the issue the Member raises; that is, if we paid less, we could probably hire more people and spread the wealth around. We recognize that and I've committed to this House that I will have the issue raised with the UNW at the earliest opportunity to see if some accommodation can be made in that particular area, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Return To Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Supplementary To Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Item 6: Oral Questions

April 11th, 1995

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Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Mr. Speaker, keeping in mind that summer break for some communities, like the communities of Pond Inlet and Hall Beach, will be towards the beginning of June until early August, and since that time is approaching very quickly, when does the Minister think he will be able to talk to the union? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, we're just entering an arbitration process with the UNW at the present time. I really have to be honest and say to this House that I don't think we'll be able to resolve this issue in time for this hiring season, but the Minister of Education, the Minister of Personnel and myself are well aware of the importance of these students who are hopefully coming back to spend their working life in the Northwest Territories. They need the support they can get through money paid to them for working for the Government of the Northwest Territories through the summer. We're well aware of that necessity and are doing everything we can to make sure we hire as many of those students as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Supplementary To Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand the government having to comply with the collective agreement. Is the government also looking at ways of using third parties instead of having the private sector pay these summer students so the wages will be compatible with other independent

businesses? Are they exploring the area of contract agreements? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, we're not hotly pursuing that particular avenue. We don't want to have a grievance raised about contracting out. But, certainly, we'll do everything we can to make sure we hire as many of those students as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Supplementary To Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my community of Pond Inlet, the government has only been able to employ two summer students. With the amount of money in casual wages allocated to the community, they could probably employ 10 to 12 students. Can the Minister assure the community that they will be able to do that by the summer break? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Pollard.

Further Return To Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Item 6: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, I can't make that assurance. As I said, I don't think we'll be able to resolve this issue soon enough for this particular hiring season. Probably the reason there are not as many jobs in the smaller communities is the jobs happen to occur in the denser communities. We don't apportion a certain amount of money around the Northwest Territories to hire students. Many times, it's done on the basis of a requirement for more people in the summertime because of increased activity. I would suggest that those summer activities are the reason that the jobs are increasing. I won't be able to say to the House and to the Member that we'll be able to hire more students in his particular community because I don't think we'll get that issue resolved that quickly, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Question 467-12(7): Policies For Student Summer Employment
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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