Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Member has identified an area where we have a critical shortage of facilities across the Northwest Territories. That is in shops and opportunities for young students to gain hands-on education experience. We are hopeful that true partnership, which that's exactly how the project got going in Fort Good Hope that the principal and community was able to strike with businesses in the region. They were able to outfit that shop and get materials for the program. We are hoping that we are going to see more and more of that. We have good examples in the Beaufort-Delta. We have some here in Yellowknife and in the South Slave, as well. It's a situation where right now we are relying on partnerships to deliver that kind of programming. We have, as part of the Northern Strategy discussions, proposed that we be funded for a number of mobile shop units. We would use those then to travel around to the various communities to provide some hands-on training in those communities, in particular, where we don't have the ability to put a room in a school and provide a shop service. Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, a lot of our students in the small communities have a talent for hands-on programs and the shop program is one of them that could be a success in the small communities. Would the Minister consider other facilities that may be used in the communities to enhance the shop programs for our schools? MACA, DPW and other organizations sometimes have shops available for students. Would he consider that in the time frame before launching into a different program that would see these types of shops in schools permanently? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think that's a great idea. We should find ways for schools to take advantage of other facilities that might be in communities. It's certainly something that we welcome. So it's already a possibility. We also encourage young people in school to get involved in apprenticeships and through the Schools North Apprenticeship Program, young people can gain hands-on experience and get credits towards their CTS courses, as well as time put in towards an apprenticeship. So we do have a number of different opportunities. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Dent. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr Dent.

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I agree with the Member's assertions to how the program should cater to those who have disabilities or, for that matter, people who are seniors. There are different reasons for people participating in the program and the program needs to accommodate those differences.

We are in the process of working through the redesign of the Income Support Program. We are at the point where we are going to be going back to committee very shortly with some suggestions for how our policies could be accommodated to deal with the different people in the different categories. We have committed to go back to the committee, Madam Speaker, to discuss the issue the Member brings up; that is how the program redesign would deal with those who are disabled or those who are seniors. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Absolutely, there is a process on the way but I think it's good for us to air out our ideas and the process we are following. I would like to ask the Minister where the department and the Minister stands with respect to the possibility of treating those with disabilities differently than those who are on income support in a regular manner. For some public policy reasons, income support is quite low. One of the reasons, whether it's accepted or not, is to encourage the people to get off the system and get better income options wherever possible. That is not the case and that's not workable for those with disabilities. Is the Minister considering in his review to increase the assistance available for those with disabilities over what they get now? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Minister Dent.

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The program right now already provides increased assistance for people who are on disability. There is an extra $300 a month for people who are considered disabled. So right now, there is an increased allowance.

Having said that, the Member has made a point that I am quite prepared to agree to and that is the purpose of supporting people through the Income Support Program who are disabled is one of providing an opportunity for citizenship. So as we redesign the program, I will be working with my colleagues to try to determine what is an appropriate level of support. That's absolutely where we are headed with this; to take a look at the levels of support. The next step in this is to take a look at program redesign options. In that process, we will be involving stakeholders. So people like the Council for Persons with Disabilities. We will involve them in this consultative process, as well as other stakeholders. We are intending to try to respond to the different needs that different people have for the program. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Dent. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.