In the Legislative Assembly on May 10th, 1999. See this topic in context.

Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 503

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Finance again, on the subject of the summer employment program called Working Together. Mr. Speaker, there seemed to be some indication that the Cabinet was prepared to entertain discussions further on Friday, but I think we were as well, Mr. Speaker, but for some reason or other, we adjourned. I think personally I was quite prepared to sit Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but there was a decision to adjourn until today. There is some concern on my part to have the suggestion that we pass this budget in the time frame that we did when the big issue is education, and it is of concern to many people out there.

Mr. Speaker, to get to my point of the question, we have been talking about ensuring employment for students for a number of years now. It seems strange to me that we have a special program called Working Together which becomes part of the budget and only if the budget is passed do we have that summer student employment program. I do not think that was ever the intent of any Member here. I cannot speak for everyone here, but certainly for some of my colleagues, I think it was an intent that we have a summer employment program. Can the Minister tell me, is this program predicated on us passing this budget with specifically this million dollars in order to have any kind of employment of students this summer? Thank you.

Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 504

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 504

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have no doubt that some students will find employment in programs that are not funded through the Working Together Program. This program would not support the salaries of all summer students who work for this government. However, the hundreds of students who did have jobs that were funded by the program last year may have to wait until the approval of this specific million dollars. To answer the Member's question, yes, much is dependent on that specific million dollars. In fact, during consideration of the budget in committee of the whole, we will be introducing amendments to include that million dollars as it is not included in the Main Estimates at present. As we are going through the budget today, tomorrow, the day after or whenever we get to that specific line, we will be introducing amendments to add the money. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 504

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Supplementary To Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 504

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that this kind of program should have been planned out well ahead of time.

--Applause

It seems rather obvious that the students are going to be here by the end of April, early May. We were well aware that we were going to have an interim budget and, to me, I would have thought that it would have been in that interim budget or at least some understanding where there can be movement of money between programs. My question to the Minister is, when did he think we were going to pass this budget because we have control of that here? We do. We may be sitting here until June before we pass this budget. Does that mean we do not have a program? We cannot be dictated by that fact, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 504

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. I will rule the question out of order. Again, the Member is asking a personal opinion of the Minister responsible for Finance. Members have to ask questions that are within the knowledge of the Minister responsible for that department. Mr. Ootes, do you have a supplementary?

Supplementary To Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 504

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

I wonder if the Minister could tell me when planning to include this in the budget was done for the Working Together Program?

Supplementary To Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 504

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

May 9th, 1999

Page 504

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was not included in the business plans that were presented to committee last fall. It was not included in the detailed budget that was presented to the committees earlier this spring. In fact, the first time inclusion was talked about was after division in early April and was discussed by the Members of the current Cabinet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Question 179-13(7): Working Together Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 504

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Oral questions. Mr. Morin.