Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Regarding my opening statement, I mentioned the community of Tsiigehtchic which receives $4,000 to hire someone to deliver the Income Support Program. This amount, which is minimal compared to other communities, does the Minister feel that $4,000 for a one-year program which we are supposed to put as a priority to get people off welfare and put them back to work, is adequate?
Debates of Feb. 9th, 1998
Topics
Supplementary To Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 646
Supplementary To Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 646
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 646
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when this program was taken over by Education, Culture and Employment from Health and Social Services, the intent was to free up time for social workers to deliver the
support services that people needed. Income support was seen much along the lines of a clerical function, wherein a clerk could figure out whether or not a person's income was over or under a certain line in a community and determine whether or not their income needed to be topped up. In calculating the formula for paying for the administration for the delivery of the program, it was felt that the amount of money represented by one full-time equivalent for 2,000 cases would be adequate. I have to assume that if the amount is $4,000 as the Member has said, that would be based on that formula. We have found that formula to work across the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the whole idea of the formula working, I do not believe I would be standing here asking questions because there is a fault to the delivery of this program. What are the plans the department has for communities that want to bow out of this program and give it back to the department to administer on their own?
Supplementary To Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would hope that communities would not actually want to follow through on that, because it would remove some of the community flexibility that may exist with the program being delivered by people at the local level. We would certainly be prepared to work with the community to discuss where they are finding the challenges and see if we cannot find some way to help them meet those challenges. Perhaps with some support for a while, they can find a new way to deliver the service that does not tie them up so much. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister advise me how soon can he have someone go into the communities of Tsiigehtchic, Aklavik and Fort McPherson to consider remapping the financial formula that is in place and the amounts that they feel adequate? How soon can he have someone in there?
Supplementary To Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I did not make that offer to the Member. What I did say was, the department is prepared to work with communities that are having problems. If the community wishes to approach the regional office, I am sure we can set something up with them fairly quickly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Question 254-13(5): Review Of Income Support Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Ootes.
Question 255-13(5): Computers Purchased By Health And Social Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng. Last spring and summer, a request for proposal was issued to purchase computers for the social services system throughout the Northwest Territories and health centres. I believe that contract was awarded for around $1.2 million with about 350 computers required. I wonder if the Minister could tell us, where are those computers at the moment?
Question 255-13(5): Computers Purchased By Health And Social Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.
Return To Question 255-13(5): Computers Purchased By Health And Social Services
Question 255-13(5): Computers Purchased By Health And Social Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
I understand, Mr. Speaker, there are 19 in Arviat, but other than that, I am not exactly sure.
--Laughter.
I will attempt to find that information and advise the Member. Thank you.
Return To Question 255-13(5): Computers Purchased By Health And Social Services
Question 255-13(5): Computers Purchased By Health And Social Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.
Supplementary To Question 255-13(5): Computers Purchased By Health And Social Services
Question 255-13(5): Computers Purchased By Health And Social Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you. Could the Minister tell us if there were any deficiencies in these computers? What action is being taken about those deficiencies?
Supplementary To Question 255-13(5): Computers Purchased By Health And Social Services
Question 255-13(5): Computers Purchased By Health And Social Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mr. Ng, two questions.
Further Return To Question 255-13(5): Computers Purchased By Health And Social Services
Question 255-13(5): Computers Purchased By Health And Social Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand there were three or four units that were not working properly, and they have since been replaced. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 255-13(5): Computers Purchased By Health And Social Services
Question 255-13(5): Computers Purchased By Health And Social Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.
Question 256-13(5): Benefits From NWT Diamond Mining
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 647
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Speaker, during the environmental hearing process, we heard many veiled threats from different groups within the north as to some of the actions
they would take if northerners did not get a fair deal out of the new diamond industry starting in the Northwest Territories. Some of those suggestions put forward were the initiation of road blocks into the mining companies. My question to Minister Kakfwi is, what assurances can he give northerners that they will not have to resort to these types of tactics, that there will be fair and equitable returns for northerners through jobs and value-added industries? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 256-13(5): Benefits From NWT Diamond Mining
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 648
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.
Return To Question 256-13(5): Benefits From Nwt Diamond Mining
Question 256-13(5): Benefits From NWT Diamond Mining
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 648
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is our view, as a government, that it is possible to do business with the industry and with the many companies who are interested and have interests in the land and resources in the Northwest Territories. As difficult as it appears at times, it is even possible and reasonable to expect the federal government and federal officials to treat reasonably the interest and concerns this government and northern aboriginal people have, in being a significant beneficiary to any type of development that takes place within the boundaries of the Northwest Territories. We do not advocate or entertain the notion of, at any time, civil disobedience as a means of levering benefits. All of which, we believe, can be done through civil and proper discussions and negotiations. Thank you.
Return To Question 256-13(5): Benefits From Nwt Diamond Mining
Question 256-13(5): Benefits From NWT Diamond Mining
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 648
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.
Supplementary To Question 256-13(5): Benefits From Nwt Diamond Mining
Question 256-13(5): Benefits From NWT Diamond Mining
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 648
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I certainly understand it from the government's perspective. I certainly would support they could not be seen to be promoting any such activity. Mr. Speaker, I am referring to statements that were made at the hearings and are being continued to be made. We have also heard the Minister of Finance suggest he would put on taxes that would choke a mule. I would like to speak to the Minister and say, this is coming from all areas of the public. I just want some assurances from the Minister that indeed he believes he can work out a fair deal for northerners with all the interested parties. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.