The Standing Committee on Social Programs met with the Minister and his officials on January 17, 2005, to review the draft main estimates for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. The committee made note of $245.003 million in spending related to operations and $18.19 million to be spent on capital projects.

Major changes since the last year's main estimates are related to the transfer of funding for social housing subsidies from the NWT Housing Corporation in the amount of $30.95 million and $610,000 related to the transfer of labour programs from the Department of Justice.

A wide-ranging discussion was held on a number of issues, which are summarized in this report.

Reform To Income Security Programs

One of the major government initiatives underway in this Assembly is the reform of income security programs. As it stands right now, there are 17 income security programs, administered by seven separate departments who use four different delivery systems. It is obvious that there needs to be a rationalization of these programs and delivery systems to ensure fairness, equity and ease of access for those people who require income security programs.

This process is just beginning, and as such the committee is reluctant to comment until such time as the department has had time to formulate a course of action, Madam Chair. Comments on the work accomplished thus far and suggestions on possible future directions have been forwarded to the Minister under separate cover.

The committee looks forward to working with the Minister over the life of this Assembly to overhaul income security programs and delivery mechanisms to ensure these programs meet the needs of northerners and are delivered in a fair and equitable manner.

Youth Employment, Apprenticeship And Training On-The-Job Programs

Members of the committee are disappointed that the Youth Employment Program, which provided subsidies to employers to hire young people to give them work experience, has been reduced by $480,000 over what was available in 2004-05. This means there is only $300,000 left to subsidize employers willing to give youth work experience.

In light of the fact that the Northwest Territories economy is outperforming every other jurisdiction in Canada, the committee is forced to admit there is not as much need for

a targeted program designed to give young people their first job experiences. However, there is a hidden cost to eliminating the Youth Employment Program in that aboriginal organizations and community government will lose access to this source of funding to hire people to deliver programming and services.

This is where committee's concerns lay and where discussion during the main estimates review on whether or not to reinstate full funding to the Youth Employment Program will focus.

Mr. Chair, Members were pleased to see that the Training on the Job, TOJ, and Apprenticeship Training on the Job, ATOJ, were both spared cuts though this latest round of government belt-tightening. It should be noted that these two programs are different in that they actually ensure that a person has marketable skills in a trade or occupation upon completion of a training program. This program provides a subsidy to employers to hire trainees or apprenticeships and recognizes there is a cost to training skilled employees.

With the increased need for trades people and other skilled employees as a result of increased activity in the non-renewable resource sector, committee cannot condone or support the erosion of training programs for northerners that can lead to long-term meaningful employment.

Committee was pleased to note that an additional $480,000 was added to the Apprenticeship Training on the Job Program as a result of our discussion with the Minister.

The Northwest Territories has the best apprenticeship program in Canada, from both the employers' and apprentices' perspectives. The standing committee is pleased that this statement will remain true for 2005-06.

Social Worker Program At Aurora College

Members of the standing committee are concerned with the difficulties Aurora College has had in attracting students to the Social Work Program. There seems to be a lack of understanding as to the root cause of the lack of uptake by students.

There were only six applicants for the first year of the Social Work Program last year, despite Aurora College heavily advertising the program prior to the start of the 2004-05 academic year. It makes no economic sense to run a program with only six students.

The committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and Aurora College must, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Social Services and the territorial Association of Social Workers, be more proactive in trying to figure out why the Social Work Program is not operating at capacity.

The need and ability of the health and social services system to hire all graduates clearly exists. We need to address the problem and move on.

Student Residence At Aurora College In Inuvik

The committee has been made aware of the need for a dedicated singles' student residence in Inuvik. The current model of modified townhouses in the Blueberry Patch, with locks on the individual bedroom doors, is not acceptable as a long-term solution.

Members of the committee have been told of students who have dropped out of school because of problems with the roommates with whom they were put in the Blueberry Patch townhouses, or because of the lack of available singles' housing in Inuvik.

The situation for singles accommodations, or for any accommodations for that matter, will only get worse in Inuvik as pipeline development and oil and gas exploration continues.

The committee endorses single student housing for the Inuvik college campus and would be interested in examining the business case outlining the need and costs of such a facility.

Student Success Centres At Aurora College Campuses

As part of the targeted cost-reduction exercise, Aurora College was expected to bear its share of the cuts. The decision was made by the college to eliminate the funding associated with the Student Success Centres at each of the three campuses of Aurora College. The college believed this cut would have the least impact on the programs and services that the college offers.

The Members see the need for the Student Success Centres as the support they offer students can mean the difference between success and failure.

Considering the college's total budget of approximately $25 million and the reduction of $150,000 that will be achieved by closing the centres, Members see no reason that other cost efficiencies could not be realized over the course of the year that will allow the college to continue funding the Student Success Centres.

Aurora College is strongly encouraged to fund the Student Success Centres from within their existing expropriation. Mr. Chair, with your permission, I would like to turn it over to Mr. Braden. Thank you.