Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister if any Members, constituents or any organizations in the Northwest Territories who would still like to have some input or some comment, are they still welcome to contact your department and offer that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Debates of June 5th, 2001
This is page numbers 1 - 29 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 4th 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 social.
Topics
Supplementary To Question 4-14(4): Status Of Income Support Review
Question 4-14(4): Status Of Income Support Review
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 16
Supplementary To Question 4-14(4): Status Of Income Support Review
Question 4-14(4): Status Of Income Support Review
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 16
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.
Further Return To Question 4-14(4): Status Of Income Support Review
Question 4-14(4): Status Of Income Support Review
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 16
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I am not suggesting that we should ever stop with input, for the honourable Member's information. That needs to be ongoing. At some point, we have to make a decision to proceed with some of the changes because I think it is important for the people out there. If we can make improvements, we should do so and do so expediently.
I want to proceed expediently with this particular program and not hold it up. It is an ongoing situation in this particular area that we always need to be cognizant of the fact that conditions in our communities may change, employment-wise, need-wise, and we need to be able to respond to that.
That is how I would like to approach it, that we not delay, delay, delay simply for the sake of trying to get as much input here as possible. I think it is important for us to move forward. We are prepared to do that. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 4-14(4): Status Of Income Support Review
Question 4-14(4): Status Of Income Support Review
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 16
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.
Question 5-14(4): Kakisa Access Road
Item 6: Oral Questions
June 4th, 2001
Page 16
Michael McLeod Deh Cho
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for Transportation. Mr. Speaker, the campground at Kakisa, Lady Evelyn Falls, is going through the process of expansion over the next couple of years. Part of the planning for the expansion project is to look at moving the road so it does not pass right through the campground that is currently there.
I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation if he is involved with the project that is currently underway.
Question 5-14(4): Kakisa Access Road
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 16
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.
Return To Question 5-14(4): Kakisa Access Road
Question 5-14(4): Kakisa Access Road
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 16
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not aware that we are involved at this point. Thank you.
Return To Question 5-14(4): Kakisa Access Road
Question 5-14(4): Kakisa Access Road
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 16
Supplementary To Question 5-14(4): Kakisa Access Road
Question 5-14(4): Kakisa Access Road
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 16
Michael McLeod Deh Cho
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, part of the budget has already been approved to look at this expansion project and moving the road system is part of it. I would like to ask if the Minister would consider, along with his staff, going into Kakisa to talk to the people there, because part of the road that is being rerouted is a few kilometres long. The total length of the access road is only 12 kilometres long. I think it would make sense for the Minister to go in and talk to the staff from RWED and look at making this a holistic approach that would include the whole of the access road. I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider talking to the people of Kakisa and RWED on this project.
Supplementary To Question 5-14(4): Kakisa Access Road
Question 5-14(4): Kakisa Access Road
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 16
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.
Further Return To Question 5-14(4): Kakisa Access Road
Question 5-14(4): Kakisa Access Road
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 16
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will pass that on to my department and we will have some discussion with RWED.
Further Return To Question 5-14(4): Kakisa Access Road
Question 5-14(4): Kakisa Access Road
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 16
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.
Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 16
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of the 21st century here in the North, people are experiencing a great increase in the cost of living. The Minister responsible will respond by introducing some new initiatives to increase the amount of assistance available to income support recipients and other people that need the help of government in the areas of food basket and clothing allowances.
I am just wondering, Mr. Speaker, if the Minister could answer a question for me. The question is, Mr. Speaker, where were these numbers developed? Were they developed in-house or did the Minister use outside sources? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.
Return To Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to state that I am looking at finalizing the areas that we looked at in terms of the income support issues that we committed to address. I must point out though that I briefed the standing committee yesterday on this and I need more time to finalize this particular area. Also, I need the response from the standing committee if such a written response or other response is forthcoming.
We are not in a position today to deal with the details of the particular area that I mentioned because I need the time to be able to finalize some of the areas that we have looked at. Thank you.
Return To Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
Supplementary To Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear that the Minister requires a little bit more time. There is a Social Agenda Conference happening in a couple of weeks in Hay River. The issue of income support, more dollars going to income support recipients and other people who are in need, is a social issue. Was the Minister planning to use that forum to educate or inform conference goers of this new initiative? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.
Further Return To Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I should point out first, Mr. Speaker, we are not talking about a new initiative. We are talking about having reviewed some of the areas that we were concerned about and need to improve. We have looked at a number of areas, but this is definitely not a new thrust by this government with a new initiative.
I will be bringing forward to the House some commentary on that end if we can finalize our particular consultation with the standing committee and particular areas we need to pursue with some of the other agencies out there and our Cabinet process. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
Supplementary To Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Understanding that he cannot get into the specifics of the information, would the Minister responsible work with the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, who is hosting this conference, to see if it could happen? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.
Further Return To Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, our coordination between Health and Social Services and Education is very close these days, simply because, as you are well aware, our deputy ministers have switched roles. We are very familiar with each others' programs.
Coordination has been ongoing for the past year. We set up a social committee that includes both the Minister of Health, myself and other Ministers. We are working very closely. I will speak to the Minister about the Hay River Social Agenda Conference. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
Supplementary To Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Question 6-14(4): Income Support Increases
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 17
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is great that the departments are working closely together and the deputy ministers are swapping. However, I would like to stress the fact that the programs designed by the government are delivered by front-line personnel and the conference in Hay River is for front-line personnel.
I will strongly suggest to the Minister that they should bring these new initiatives, or additional initiatives, to this conference, to be endorsed, or questioned, by these front-line individuals before any final decision is made. Will the Minister commit to that? Thank you.