Yes, some of those are reflected in the changes that we made with the northern bonus for students coming back to work and the northern grant also went up. I believe in the last session we gave a really good update on all these changes that we were making to the Student Financial Assistance Program. Thank you.
Debates of June 7th, 2016
This is page numbers 409-454 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was going.
Topics
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Shane Thompson Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chair. If I understand correctly from the Minister, the $3.16 million is increased to the programs that's been part of the budget. Is that what the money is or are there other allocations for that in financial assistance? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake
Yes, as I mentioned, northern grants have increased for our northern residents, as well as the northern bonus for anybody that's coming back to work in the north or even an option for southern students that want to come and work up in the Northwest Territories. It's an increase so we can actually attract skilled development workforce as well. Thank you.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Shane Thompson Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, is that $3.16 million increase in those three areas or is there something else in that? Because I look at the student grants, it's at $13.25 million, and then I look at Student Financial Assistance on the other page, it's $16.419 million. I'm very happy if the northern grants are going up by $3.16 million or is there other money that…because there's a difference between what's on the grants and what's on the financial assistance. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake
Yes, for more clarity and more detail we'll go to Deputy Minister Stewart please.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Stewart
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The value that's in there is the total cost of operating the Student Financial Assistance Program. That $16.4 million breaks down, and these are approximate numbers, there's about $685,000 for the staff that operate the program, there's about $13.3 million that are the grants that actually go out for the basic allowance and the supports that are provided. There's a small amount of other O and M for materials and travel, but the biggest other portion is a valuation allowance for student loans. It's about $2.4 million. That’s the difference between the amount that goes out as grant payments and the total budget of the $16.4 million. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Shane Thompson Nahendeh
Now I can get a better picture of where this money is because I'm sitting there going, well, $3.1 million going into this funding would be great, but in fees and payments there's a reduction of approximately $1.7 million. Could the Minister clarify what the reduction in this is? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Stewart
Thank you, Mr. Chair. In 2015-16, we had a particularly high caseload under the Income Assistance Program. Now, we received a supplementary appropriation to reflect that higher caseload. That was one-time money. It isn’t ongoing at this point in terms of the caseload. But as happens in many years, if there is higher caseloads then we would have to come back for another appropriation, but in 2015-16, there were higher caseloads than the historical case. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair Daniel McNeely
I was going to allow you extra to make up for yesterday. I will allow one more question for Mr. Thompson.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Shane Thompson Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate your leniency on me. I think the Minister will be happy when I'm done with the questioning on this page. With the heavier caseload, and I notice there's a reduction in staffing, was that part of the reduction process? I've heard that some of the caseload staff could be potentially affected by our reductions and maybe I've been misinformed, but I notice that with the heavier caseload you have a reduction of three staff at headquarters, so does that have an impact on what we're doing and was that part of the reduction-planning process? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We did have two positions that I believe went through decentralization and then there was one reduction at headquarters.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair Daniel McNeely
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Questions. I see none. Education, Culture and Employment, income security operations expenditure summary and detail on 63 and additional verbiage on 61, activity total $47,578,000. Agreed?
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.