Mr.
Chair, I, too, have several
concerns from the Beaufort-Delta region. Probably one of the most alarming or outstanding issues that you hear from the divisional board of education is the area of accommodation for teachers, especially in the area of housing, and especially in a lot of our communities.
We did have a staff housing program in the past, where we provided housing. But for them the issue isn’t around staff housing in general. They’re looking at parity for teachers. Most teachers are accommodated by way of housing. It’s really the construction of the nurse’s residence, which is part of, usually, the health centre or whatnot. And they’re saying, “If they can get it, why can’t we?” They work under the same conditions in those communities, but yet they have to find their own housing. In the case of nurses, most cases are accommodated with a residence for nurses. For them, it’s a question of fair….
But more importantly, since the government did away with staff housing, which has had a major effect on the recruitment of teachers, especially in the smaller communities, where we don’t have market housing, it’s just trying to…. It’s the cost they have to pay for rent and also the cost they have to pay for groceries, power and everything else. But these are unforeseen costs until they get there. And then they get into these communities, and they are basically shocked at how high the
costs of living in these small isolated communities are. A lot of them are deterred, where they basically quit or move on, and you have to recruit someone else to fill those positions.
I think as one of the fundamental pillars of this government, education is critical. But again, we do have to be able to deliver programs universally throughout the Northwest Territories. If that means reinstating staff housing in certain areas because of certain problems we’re having recruiting because of staff housing, I think we do have to address that issue of maybe looking at getting back into staff housing in those areas where there are no market communities.
I think, also, realizing the importance of the different problems we’re seeing in our schools, with FAS/FAE, the psychological problems we’re seeing in a lot of students…. I think we have to be open to that, because it is a reality in a lot of our communities because of alcohol abuse, substance abuse. It is affecting children in their learning in our schools.
As a government, we have to somehow look at the emotional and physical and mental side of those students, and make sure they also have the appropriate specialists and whatnot that can accommodate those communities. In most cases, the student has to be sent out, evaluated and then basically assessed, where they’re sent back to the appropriate education councils. There is a major cost to that for this government. I think if you can catch it early on — especially for the younger students — if you are able to help that student to basically achieve a very successful life by way of learning and also by being able to partake in that process without feeling they’re left out….
It’s also so important that we do work with groups such as the aboriginal organizations. I know a few people have touched on the trades program they have in Inuvik. Between the Inuvialuit and the Gwich’in, they invest over $1
million in this
program, which is a very creative way of developing programs, but through partnerships. We have to be able to work with those groups. I know dealing with the mine trade centre here in regard to learning centres, the diamond industry, and also dealing with the industry in regard to oil and gas….
I think we have to start putting more focus on post-secondary trades, looking at southern institutions in regard to SAIT and NAIT and all these other groups and organizations that are out there, so that we are able to achieve the results we’d like to see — and also being able to fill those partnerships in which it’s been a proven way of developing your human resource capacity — having these types of relationships with different colleges in southern Canada, but more importantly, through Alberta, in regard to SAIT and NAIT.
I think also the other area I hear a lot of concerns about, especially in my riding, is the area of income support. It’s not perfect. But also we have to realize that we have to do something to be able to work with individuals in the communities to make them not dependent on the system that puts them into that dependency role. If anything, it’s to help them get off that dependency and basically make positive choices through education and career decisions and also to work with them to be able to bring down some of these social barriers that are put on people who are in that income support bracket.
But the problem I see in communities, in talking to the local contractors and whatnot, is that they have very serious problems trying to hire people locally, who can be hired locally, who basically work for these individuals. Because of the connection between their wage and the housing rent subs, as soon as you go to work, your rent increases and you’re cut off income support for three months. For them, it’s a disadvantage rather than an advantage.
Again, there have to be creative ways of keeping people so when they make a positive choice of going to work, getting a job, bringing in some income on their own, they’re not penalized right off the bat. Give them four or five months’ leeway to get back on their feet, generate some income and also be able to work with the local contractors to develop that workforce.
It’s sad to say, but people actually will tell you, “Oh, I
can’t go to work because I’m going to get
penalized.” I mean, that’s the wrong attitude to have.
As a government, if that’s where this Income Support Program is leading us, I think we have to turn it around and send it in another direction, because that was not the intention of how this program was going to be working.
I think, also, another area that we have a real problem with, especially in our smaller communities, is the balance between elderly homeowners and elders who are in social housing — the elders that want to maintain their own independence, their own lifestyle, and also be able to work with their families and sustain that independence as long as they can and hopefully don’t have to leave the community, and can live a full life in their home communities. We have to do whatever we can to sustain them. Elders who are in social housing don’t pay any rent, but for someone who is staying in their own home and wanting that independence, you’re looking at about $18,000 a year.
I
think we have to find that balance between
someone who is in social housing, who’s basically being compensated for $18,000 for free rent, free subsidy or free housing, and somebody who’s in
their own home. How do you balance that and retain that $18,000? Sure, we give them a fuel subsidy; we give them tax breaks. I know there’s a power subsidy. But, again, I think you have to illustrate the benefits for both groups and not have one group feeling that they’re left out and the other group basically feeling guilty for getting something for nothing. I think it’s important that we seriously look at that, in regard to this income support review process, so that you can find a fair and equitable program for all those groups that are involved.
I think another critical part through education is the whole area of dealing with the upgrading and whatnot in our small communities. We have these facilities; we’re able to accommodate these people; but I think a lot of people that do drop out prior to high school and whatnot are going back to school. Especially seeing individuals graduating from our colleges and whatnot, a lot of these people who were out of school for 15 or 20 years went back again to try to get their high school diploma, or to go to post-secondary education or take a program through our college programs.
Again, I think it’s so important that we do everything we can to invest in those programs. I know, a lot of times, that’s usually the first place that you cut, but at these different levels of education, regardless of whether it’s high school or going through adult education to post-secondary education and off to university and college, we have to have a holistic approach to education and realize that we have to have components for everybody to be able to fit into and not leave anybody out.
I think we are trying to make strides here, but it’s in taking advantage of these programs and initiatives. With the amount of potential we have — and I don’t think we’re able to reach the potential by way of the diamond industry now, with the oil and gas expansions — we have to be able to have our people ready to take advantage of those opportunities. More importantly, we need to promote them to make positive choices and not get them into the social rut that we find ourselves in by way of income support and programs that they get into and they just can’t seem to get out of.