Debates of Feb. 20th, 2017

This is page numbers 1779 – 1836 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 program.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 138-18(2): Slave Geological Province Access Corridor

Minister’s Statement 139-18(2): Education, Training And Youth Development: Education, Culture And Employment Progress Statement

Expanding The Economy Through Investments In People

February Statutory Holiday Proposal

Return Of Fort Providence Minor Hockey Program

Regional Benefits Of Mackenzie Valley Highway Construction

Status Of Transboundary Water Agreements

Territorial Marine Resupply Services

Proposed Elimination Of Aurora College Social Work Program

Overflow Water On Beaufort Delta Highways

Connie Loutit Memorial Soccer Tournament

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Territorial Marine Resupply Services

Status Of Transboundary Water Agreements

Supports For The Agriculture Industry

Whati All-Season Road

Proposed Elimination Of Aurora College Programs

Proposed Elimination Of Aurora College Social Work Program

Status Of GNWT Open Government Policy

Overflow Water On Beaufort Delta Highways

Increased Investment In The Mineral Incentive Program

Impact Of Slave Geological Province Access Corridor Impact On Caribou Populations

Proposed Elimination Of Aurora College Programs

Tabled Document 287-18(2): Follow-Up Letter To Oral Question 525-18(2): Sahtu Regional Health Council

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Income Tax Act

Bill 18: An Act To Amend The Health And Social Services Professions Act

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Education, Culture And Employment, Deferral Of Education And Culture Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Education, Culture And Employment, Deferral Of Labour Development And Standards Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Education, Culture And Employment, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For The Department Of Education, Culture And Employment

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Committee Motion 53-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Education, Culture And Employment, Deferral Of Education And Culture Activity, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Lovely

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So what ended up happening under that change to the program was we had originally intended to raise the rates in 2016, April 1, 2016, but because of the change to the way we calculate as a result of the changes to the NWT Child Benefit and the Canada Child Benefit, those increases to the food rates and the clothing rates were not implemented, so the rates didn't change at all. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

February 20th, 2017

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Lovely. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Chair, I am not sure that I understand that. So there were going to be increases, but in the end there were not increases, but there was a decrease because the food and clothing allowance was taken out. Is the deletion of the food and clothing allowance for children equal to the increase in the Canada Child Benefit? Thank you.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

I’ll pass that question to my deputy minister.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Haener.

Haener

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am just going to go back a bit and outline some of the historical increases. We did receive an increase in 2015-16 to implement changes to the food, clothing, and incidental allowances, as Mr. Lovely mentioned. We also received funds in 2016-17 to increase those allowances, as well. However, in order to take advantage of the new child benefit, we actually modified the methodology and approach for income assistance. So because of that change in methodology and approach, the food and clothing portion of the methodology no longer applies to children. Instead, we have the child benefit that applies. So we were not able to actually roll out the funds as originally planned, and instead we redirected them in order to take advantage of that child benefit. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Deputy Minister Haener. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

I thank you, Mr. Chair. Let me ask a related question: so is the Canada Child Benefit having the same magnitude of benefit for people on income assistance as it has for people who aren't on income assistance? Is the magnitude of benefit equal for both groups? Thank you.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Maybe it needs a bit more clarity, but our families that are on income assistance right now that took the Canada Child Benefit have seen increases in the dollars that we are giving them. For people who are not on income assistance, maybe if the Member could just clarify if she is referring to professionals, people who are in the workforce? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Time is up, Ms. Green. Moving on to Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I am looking at the line for Student Financial Assistance on page 40. It actually shows a decrease between 2016-17 and 2017-18. Even when I look at the revised estimates, there is a decrease. Can someone from the department explain what is going on here, why we are decreasing our funding for Student Financial Assistance? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is due to less uptake in the program. Historically, Student Financial Assistance, we have always seen about $1.3 million that lapsed every year, and so this year we just decided to look at taking that $1.3 million out. It is not always fully utilized, and, historically, we have always seen that $1.3 million over-lapsed, around there. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I am just trying to understand what would happen here if all of our TEP and social work students have to go south because Aurora College is winding down their program. If Student Financial Assistance was actually maxed out under the 2017 Main Estimates, what would happen? Would students be denied financial assistance? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, we don't want to hinder the education of any students who want to go and take post-secondary education or training, focusing on skill development. If that was the case, that we went over budget on this line item, we would probably have to come back to government with a supplementary appropriation so that all students who wanted to take post-secondary have that opportunity. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the commitment, then, by the Minister that he would bring forward a supplementary appropriation if Student Financial Assistance gets maxed out. I hope we don't have to go there, but I think I have got a firm commitment from the Minister to do that. Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is it.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Moses, did you want to add to that?

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If it does get maxed out, I guess you could say that is good news because you've got more students taking post-secondary. So even though we don't want to get there, it is great that we do have over 1,200 students right now who we are currently funding. Hopefully, we get more in the future. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Ms. Green.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will just go back to the question I was asking when I ran out of time. The question is: is the Canada Child Benefit providing the same magnitude of benefit for people on income assistance as it is for people who are not? That would be, of course, proportionate to their income. It is an income-driven benefit. Are they receiving the same magnitude of benefit when they are on income assistance as the people who are not on income assistance? Thank you.

Debates of Feb. 20th, 2017

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