Thank you, Mr. Chair. Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities, I see about a $650,000 reduction from the mains. Why is that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Minister.

I'll go to my assistant deputy minister, Mr. Lovely.

Go ahead, Mr. Lovely.

Thank you, Mr. Lovely. Mr. Thompson?

Mr. Thompson.

Thank you. Just to clarify. So this is the federal funding and is it dollar for dollar or is it 50/50? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Minister.

Yes, that's correct, dollar for dollar.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So we're talking about there's only $800,000 worth of requests for this program. What has the department done to promote it? Because I'm pretty sure there's more people that have disabilities that are not able to access this. And so what has the department done to promote this; to get the message out to people that this funding is available? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Minister.

Well, through our regional service centres we have client service offices, career development officers, as I mentioned also we have employment transition officers that go out and do this type of work and focus on getting the information to our residents so that they know what kind of programs are available to them.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Could the Minister explain how they get the information out? Is it a walk-in or do they actually go out and go and see the people, the clients, out there? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Minister.

Yes. Well, we do have walk-ins that come into the offices in the regions. We have our ETOs working in the communities. Our staff now contacts employers that actually employ some of these individuals and help them understand what services and what kind of services can be provided to them.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Thompson.

What about the people that have disabilities, are not employed and don't know about this? How do we get the message to them? Because I've heard from the Minister and the deputy ministers, that they don't access the program. We've still lots of money still left over at the end of the day, so how do we get the message to these people that have disabilities that can access this program? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Minister.

We also work with NWT Disabilities Council, the disability groups in the communities, to let them know how to get these programs out to residents, persons with disabilities in the communities. I know they do a really great job of advocating. I've done work with them in the past. We also work with our NGOs in the communities, our local governments, Aboriginal governments. I think one of the concerns is the heavy reporting that's required to the federal side of the dollars, so some people might not want to have to fill out all the paperwork and give all the reporting to the federal requirements. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regards to the reporting, has the department gone to the federal government and said this is a hindrance, this is a challenge for the people within our communities? You know, the reporting is a challenge, and if that's stopping people from accessing funding that doesn't bode well for the people with disabilities. Thank you, Mr. Chair.