Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, I asked the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment questions regarding Income Assistance. I'd like to continue that line of questions. He informed me that we spend approximately $6.5 million a year simply administering income security. I believe much of this time is chasing people and making sure those on Income Assistance meet their monthly reporting requirements. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to asking his department to review the monthly reporting requirements and, where it makes sense, to extend those to longer time periods so people are not living 30 days at a time?

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, I am not going to ask my department to do something they are already doing. As the Member knows, I've had conversations with him, this is something we are looking into. We are trying to figure out ways to make this program serve the population that it serves better, essentially.

As the Member pointed out, there are people whose incomes don't vary. They are steady. They don't go up or down, and if they do, it might be by just a few dollars every month, and they might stay that way for years. The Member is correct; there is no reason to have those people reporting on a monthly basis. While there is an opportunity right now for some of those clients to be what is called "payrolled," meaning that they only need to report maybe every three or six or 12 months, that is something we are looking to develop into an actual program. We have perhaps a separate program for persons with disabilities and people who have aged out of the workforce, whose incomes won't be going up and going down. That would make the lives of those people easier, and it would also free up our client services officers to help other clients who they are dealing with.

I am very glad to hear that answer and I look forward to the Minister reporting back whether we actually increase the number of people who are payrolled. My second concern here is that I have spoken to a number of private landlords and they have informed me that, if people are payrolled, and if they can guarantee rent for more than 30 days, they would buy a building and fill it with Income Assistance clients. Presently, the way it goes is, if it a person misses their reporting appointment and doesn't get the money for the next month, then they can't pay their rent, and then that landlord runs into the Residential Tenancies Act and has to go through a lengthy process to evict the person who can't pay their rent. My question is: will the Minister, during this review which he's asked his department to conduct of putting more people on payroll, look into the issue of working with private landlords to guarantee them rent from tenants?

What the department is working on isn't just payrolling more people, it's how we can better deliver the service, so it's a very holistic approach. I had questions earlier about Income Assistance and housing, and so that's something that I want to look at, as well. I understand what the Member is saying; I've had a number of constituents over the past four years who have run into these types of issues, so it's something I'm alive to. I look forward to having conversations with my colleague, the Minister of Justice, as well as the Minister of housing, so we can create a system that works for everybody.

I appreciate that this work is being done, but I think the ultimate goal here should be not just payrolling people but providing a guaranteed liveable income. That is an amount that no person can fall below so that no one in the Northwest Territories is living in poverty. While the Minister is asking his department to conduct this review, can we look at the benefits that a guaranteed liveable income would provide the North?

You know, successive governments over the past number of Assemblies have gone through multiple budgets cuts, and it's not the front-line person who we cut. They need to be delivering services. It's the policy people. It's the people who would put their minds to these kinds of things. I can only do so much. Right now, the mandate has tasked ECE with some big jobs, the biggest reform to education that we have seen in a generation. There is quite a bit going on, so I cannot commit the staff to doing that at this point because there are other things that need to get done.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I made a statement regarding the college, but the decision that was made is not quite clear, so there are a lot of constituents who are asking these questions. I want to ask the Premier a question. [Translation ends].

Can the Premier please explain to this House and the public how section 19(3) of the Aurora College Act supports her assertion that, as Premier, she is the person with the authority to terminate the employment of the Aurora College president? Masi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to start out by saying that I am actually really excited that the constituents from Monfwi, actually, their biggest concern is about this hiring because, man, I have been hearing all about housing, education, all kinds of things. It does show that one of the regions is actually doing really well in the Northwest Territories, and I am happy to hear that. I have offered many times and I will offer again. I am very sorry, Mr. Speaker, that the Member is still confused. I will offer again that the staff from the Department of Justice are willing to sit down with the Member and explain how this works.

Mr. Speaker, it's not just about me. It's about the public. The Premier needs to explain to this House: what kind of authority does she have to deal with that matter? I will just move on to the next question, since I am not getting any answers here.

Perhaps I need to be more specific. Section 19(3) of the Aurora College Act, which is a law that we follow, "for greater certainty," the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment's authority to appoint and hence terminate the president of Aurora College "operates notwithstanding the Public Service Act." What is the Premier's understanding of the meaning of this clause in the legislation?

I thought I was pretty clear in explaining the difference between hiring and appointing, but I am understanding from the Member that I was not clear enough, and I am understanding from the Member that other Members are not clear on it, either. Any Member, Mr. Speaker, who needs more clarification, I am willing to offer that the staff of the Department of Justice are willing to sit down with any Member in this House to explain the difference.

I am trying to gather all of the information so we are being transparent, we are being accountable here in this House, so the public is aware of it, not behind closed doors, having a meeting. We are here, being accountable to the public. Will Premier Cochrane apologize to this House for overstepping her authority in terminating the Aurora College president?

There was a personal statement made by the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment that explained the situation that this was not a decision made on my own, that this was a decision that was made in consultation. No, Mr. Speaker, I will not apologize.

Thank you, Honourable Premier. Final supplementary, Member for Monfwi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Since I am not getting the answer the public is expecting, at a later time, I am be tabling a document that is legal advice that I received and let the public decide on this. Masi, Mr. Speaker.

No question, but I will give the Premier a chance to comment if she would like.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am more than willing to hear any sides. Again, I stand by my side. I will offer the Member the whole staff of the Department of Justice to give him a briefing, if he would like that for clarification. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Honourable Premier. The time for oral questions has expired. Item 9, written questions. Item 10, returns to written questions. Item 11, replies to the Commissioner's address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, reports of standing and special committees. Item 15, tabling of documents. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents, "Letter to Mayor, City of Yellowknife," from myself as Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, regarding funding for the purchase of a multi-use building to house 42 homeless individuals, dated February 25, 2020; "Letter to Executive Director, Yellowknife Women's Society" from myself as Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, regarding funding for the purchase of a multi-use building to house 42 homeless individuals, dated February 25, 2020; and a letter to a concerned citizen from myself as Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, regarding funding to purchase a multi-use building to house 42 homeless individuals, dated February 25, 2020. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Member for Monfwi.