This is page numbers 4635 - 4688 of the Hansard for the 19th 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 know.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the first reading by the Senate was on October 6th. So I don't think that those benefits have been finalized yet. I understand that the federal government should have them finalized and money should be flowing perhaps by the end of this month.

When that happens, I can say that we will be exempting the additional GST that clients may be receiving. So currently GST rebates are counted as income against someone's income assistance. But understanding that the reason this is being doubled is because of the record inflation that we're facing, we are not going to count that additional GST rebate against income. So income assistance clients won't see their income assistance reduced because of the additional GST rebate.

There is the housing benefit as well, and that is money for rent. Income assistance pays the actual cost of rent and utilities. So it's sort of a nonissue so I don't think people need to worry about that. If you're getting money for your rent from income assistance, you wouldn't get the money for rent from Canada. Or if you get it from Canada, that will be deducted by income assistance.

And there's also a dental benefit, for children under 12. I believe it's over two years. And because that is a benefit for children, that will also be exempted from the calculations. We don't include funds received for children as income. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is for Minister of education. Can the Minister provide data on how many small community graduates directly enter university as compared to larger regional centres? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, I don't have that -- I have it in my hands but I can't flip through this document and find that information at the moment. I'm sorry, Mr. Speaker.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Okay, I did do a written question. I submitted a written question back in December. How many people in the Northwest Territories have a grade 12 education and are on income support assistance program, and the answer was that -- this is not the answer I was looking for. This data is not tracked by the Department of Education as the input is not a requirement to qualify for the assistance.

So what I'm asking here is that if the education system was good, I don't -- it's more of a comment. I don't -- if he wants to answer, but I already asked the question. If we had -- if the education system was good, we would not have many of these young people walking around in the small communities because we hear from the community leaders and community elders, community are saying why are -- why do we have all these young people with grade 12 education walking around doing nothing? And I'm sure you heard that too, in your ridings too before, Mr. Speaker. So I'm just asking the Minister that if the education system was good, we would not be having this. And can the Minister provide the number, how many grade 12 graduates that are on income support assistance? We need data so that maybe they can make a good decision in the future to improve the education system, especially for small communities. Thank you.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I don't have that. When a client goes to apply for income assistance, we don't ask what their level of education is. And, you know, I think as a government we need to always be mindful of how much information we are requesting. However, I get the Member's point; it would be useful information. I think that we're at a point, though, where we have a good sense of what the education system is like across the territory in communities. We have a lot of data out there, and we just need to start implementing or continue to implement some of these new initiatives to help address the issue because we all know there's issues in education. It's no secret. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions, colleagues. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Replies to the Commissioner's address. Petitions. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Finance.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document: The 2023-2024 Capital Estimates. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Inuvialuit Water Board 2021-2022 Annual Report and Financial Statements; and, Natural Resource Conservation Trust Fund Financial Statements for Year Ended March 31st, 2022. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Director of Child and Family Services Annual Report 2021-2022. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following three documents: 2023 Corporate Plan Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission; Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission 2021 Annual Report; and, Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission Path Towards Safety Strategic Plan 2023-2027. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Richard Edjericon

Richard Edjericon Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you. And thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to table the document of a private home of Lutselk'e. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two motions. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, October 20th, 2022, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that the Legislative Assembly recommend the reappointment of the following individual to the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission effective immediately for a term of four years:

  • Mr. Yacub Adam of the city of Yellowknife.

And further, that the Legislative Assembly recommend the appointment of the following individual to the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission effective immediately for a term of four years:

  • Mr. Norman Yakeleya of the city of Yellowknife.

And furthermore, that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of these appointments to the Commissioner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Notices of motion. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, October 20th, 2022, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that the following two individuals be recommended to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories for reappointment as members of the Human Rights Adjudication Panel, effective immediately, for a term of four years:

  • Mr. Colin Baille of the city of Yellowknife; and,.
  • Mr. Paul Parker of the city of the Yellowknife.

And further, that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of this appointment to the Commissioner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Notices of motion. Motions. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Bill 23, 29, 48, 52, and 53, Tabled Document 528-19(2), Tabled Document 654-19(2), Tabled Document 723-19(2) with Member for -- oh, one second here.

By the authority given to me as Speaker by Motion 1-19(2), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hours of adjournment to consider the business before the House, with Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes in the chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

October 18th, 2022

Page 4661

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the issue of committee? Member for Frame Lake.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4661

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Madam la Presidente. The committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 528-19(2), Independent Commission on Remuneration of Members' Benefits and Allowances Final Report; and, Tabled Document 654-19(2), Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report. Mahsi, madam.