The assessments that are being done, in regard to the assessment, the people that are going into the corporation, some of them not wanting to go there because of certain staff, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister follow up with the officials at Housing to make sure the housing arrangements are made with the tenants of Paulatuk who are in danger of eviction? Thank you.

Thank you. In my meeting when I was up in Paulatuk, I did hear some concerns about the LHO up there. We have some new folks in there that are actually following the policy as it’s laid out and now they’re starting to make some headway as far as trying to get rent arrears taken care of, but I understand the people’s concern up there and I did say that I’d be talking to the district office about it. But again, the folks in Paulatuk, and anyone else out there that are in arrears, have to realize that there is an opportunity for them to come back to the LHOs, get their reassessments done, confirm their income, and adjustments will be made. It’s been shown in the past that this could happen and I’m sure if there were adjustments that could be made in Paulatuk, they will be made. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Short supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I’m asking the Minister, Mr. Speaker, that if we could stop all the evictions that are taking place now until they get the families to go in and get a repayment plan done and work together to keep the people in their homes instead of having the houses sitting there empty and being able to keep families in their homes and not causing grief to the family in regard to having to move into other families’ houses. There are not too many houses in Paulatuk, Mr. Speaker. There’s nowhere to go. So I’m asking if the Minister could commit to me today to stop the evictions until we can get in there and get a repayment plan for those families that are on the eviction list. Thank you.

Thank you. The residents had ample opportunity, as I said before, to work out a repayment plan, and not knowing what state we’re at right now, if it’s a rental office ordered eviction, I would have to follow up and be in contact with the Member as to the status of some

of these evictions. So I’m not sure if they’re court ordered evictions. I’d have to follow up on that.

Again, I say, Mr. Speaker, the Housing Corporation is not in the business of evicting people, we’re in the business of trying to house people. We’ll do our part in making sure that happens, but they also have to do their part to make sure they don’t put us in a position where we’re left with no other choice but to follow through with the termination and the eviction process. But I will commit to the Member that I’ll follow up and I’ll see what stage we’re at and I will be in contact with the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member’s statement today, I continue to raise concern about how conservative this government continues to be and leans towards stepping forward with government-appropriate legislation to protect people. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services what rules and regulations are out there that are in place at this moment to stop someone from calling themselves a massage therapist or a naturopath therapist. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.

Absolutely nothing, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Absolutely nothing, yes, that’s the problem. What rules, regulations or anything of that nature are out there and any type of regulation that ensures that these people are qualified to do the job that they are doing? Thank you.

Thank you. There are massage therapists and other professionals who are able and allowed to practice in the Northwest Territories and their credentials that they received from other jurisdictions are recognized here. Thank you.

So I guess the Minister should maybe explain to us what group association in the sense of regulation and legislation that actually recognizes these qualifications, because apparently she said earlier there is nothing out there to define that. Can she maybe clarify that for the House?

I believe I did a very good job in explaining that yesterday, but it doesn’t seem to make any difference to the Member. I said it

yesterday and I’ll say it again, there’s nothing absolutely that stops a naturopath or other therapist and professions from practicing in the Northwest Territories. They are absolutely welcome and able to practice. Thank you.

Thank you. Ms. Lee. Your final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, there certainly should be. Both the public and the industry are demanding fair and reasonable regulations. My last question would be: in unedited Hansard of yesterday the Minister was quoted as saying I want to say that those that are licensed to practice as a therapist or naturopathic practitioner, and even acupuncturists, all of those professionals are allowed to practice in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, what governing body, registration style of body, or legislation or, certainly, regulation licence these people in the Northwest Territories to practice that ensures that there’s safety and competency out there to ensure the public is protected? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I talked about the Food First Program in the schools. I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment questions on that. Would the Minister thoroughly examine the ECE budget with the staff to find money to continue the Food First Program?

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We just went through the budget process and it’s been approved by this Assembly. Every year we go through the business planning cycle. I’m sure this Food First Program will be before us again once we go through the process.

I must highlight that there are programs available as well, as I indicated, on the Healthy Food for Learning. There is upwards of $380,000 that’s been dispersed to all schools. Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative to focus on absenteeism and attendance, this is an area that’s been discussed as well. We have over $30,000 in that respect. There is money out there through our government and also the federal funding, that we’ve highlighted in the House already that those schools can access as well.

I’d like to thank the Minister for that response, however, it appears as though the Food First Program that’s essentially feeding the kids in school is going to discontinue on March 31

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Could the Minister check right now with the department and see if it’s possible to find money to at least continue the food program in the schools until the end of the school year? That’s three more months, that’s it.

I, again, indicated that the schools are receiving funding. With our budget that’s been approved, it has been allocated to various different programs in the schools. The majority of our funding also goes to the school boards and they decide where the money should be distributed, based on their interest in the students, the teachers, the programming. The school boards can also decide on the various areas that they can allocate funding. If it’s going to be towards the Food First Program, then it’s at their discretion to work with that. There are other program dollars that we have identified and will continue to support those funds as well.

It appears as though the money is...all the other money that the Minister is speaking of is allocated to other programs. This money for the Food First Program was scheduled to be one-year money, that is true, but it’s been such a huge success that I’m wondering if the department would look at actually replacing this program. If this program is going to end regardless on March 31

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then would the department find a program that’s similar that they can achieve the same results that this program has achieved since its inception?

With any pilot project that’s been undertaken in the past we’ve always reviewed the program, how successful it’s been or if there are areas for improvement, and then taken into consideration as we move forward if we need to reintegrate that into our business planning cycle. If it’s been successful, let’s look at it; if not, then there’s room for improvement. This is an area that has been earmarked for discussion. As a pilot project, we’ve done the pilot project for a year and we’re here now. It’s sunsetting but, as the Member is indicating, maybe the program should be reviewed. As I stated, any program that’s been

initiated as a pilot project, obviously there’s a review that needs to take place as well.