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

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. I am just going to leave this part because we could spend the next 20 minutes on it and still not get it come out to an answer that satisfies me. I am going to go to small community employment. This program saw an increase of $3 million so, to the $339,000 that was presently used by the program, was that fully utilized this past fiscal year? Thank you.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In the previous fiscal year, that funding was not fully utilized. Thank you.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. So in regards to this program, is it a subsidy or is it a first-come-first-served sort of thing? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We do two streams with this funding, as I mentioned earlier. There is a wage subsidy option as well as community projects that can be looked at being funded. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. In regards to the community projects, is it a cost share or is it fully funded by the department? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

February 20th, 2017

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. All the projects through the small community employment support program are done through partnerships.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. So I guess my concern is, as it is a subsidy or a partnership, we didn't access it fully this time and we have added $3 million to it. Will the department look at changing the policy so it is actually job creation and not a subsidy? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Thomson. Deputy Minister Haener.

Haener

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, definitely, we are aware of the fact that the monies have not been fully utilized in the past. We are planning to spend the next several months looking at how we can ensure that additional money is fully utilized with small community employment initiatives. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Deputy Minister Haener. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the deputy minister for that answer. So I guess my question is: are we looking at this as removing the salary subsidy and actually just making it job creation, or is it trying to fit within the parameters that presently exist in the policy? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Currently, we are still staying within the same parameters of how we do the wage subsidy or the community projects in partnership with communities, whether it is employers or Aboriginal bands. It is something that we can definitely take a look at, but that is still going to take some time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for the answer. The biggest problem is that, if communities don't have the money, they can't access this program, and if we can't access this program, people can't go to work, and if people can't go in to work, they have to go on income support. We are talking about a couple of months from now, trying to get this rolled out. If this budget is passed April 1st, it is going to come out. I would like to see the money out there. If we are not going to have it out there, or if you can't organize it, will the department look at maybe giving that money to Finance or to MACA so that they can get that money out to the communities so people can get to work and have a employment and a paycheque at the end of the day? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Deputy Minister Haener.

Haener

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we do intend to look at this fully and the approach to date. We will have a more comprehensive approach and strategy for small community employment by the fall. We appreciate the interest in seeing the money out in communities. We have that desire, as well. Obviously, we would rather that folks are engaged in productive employment rather than, as the Member says, on income assistance. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Deputy Minister Haener. Mr. Thompson.

Debates of Feb. 20th, 2017

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