Charles Dent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can certainly have a look at the regulation. I think we have to remember that most people who come into income support are cycling through. Therefore, they have what they bring into the system already. This amount is probably set up to recognize that those people who have been on income support for a long period of time, have not had the resources to purchase the clothing on their own. Whereas somebody who has just come into the system in the last month will have been well off enough to have purchased clothing previously. Can I look at it? Yes, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not believe such a list exists. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would say that it is not appropriate in this venue to discuss an issue like this. I would invite the Member, if he is interested in further information, to approach either myself or Mr. Roland, who is responsible for the public service, to discuss issues such as this. But I will not respond in this House.

Mr. Speaker, the Status of Women Council has been the impetus for many major developments such as Family Violence Awareness Week. They have actively supported the newly-established NWT Human Rights Commission, the work now underway for the implementation of the Protection Against Family Violence Act, and, most recently, the release of The Government Of the Northwest Territories Response to the NWT Action Plan on Family Violence, 2003-2008: A Framework for Action.

Much has been accomplished and still much needs to be done. I look forward to continuing my collaboration with the council to...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I would like to announce an exciting new pilot program to provide leadership opportunities for young people in the Northwest Territories: the Northwest Territories Youth Abroad Program.

The Honourable Michael McLeod, Minister responsible for Youth and I, as Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, have agreed to jointly contribute start up funding for a pilot project that will operate over the next two years. This NWT pilot project will be operated under the direction of the Nunavut Youth Abroad Society and coordinated by Northwest Territories...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Bill 17, Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends several acts to ensure that references to "spouse" appropriately capture persons who live in spousal relationships outside marriage, so that the rights or obligations provided for or imposed under those acts are equitably applied to persons in different forms of spousal relationships.

This particular bill:

amends the Conflict of Interest Act to ensure that the term "spouse" includes...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to make it clear that this isn’t a government program. It’s basically volunteers who are running the program. This government is providing contribution assistance for two years to assist it to get off the ground. It’s very similar to what happened with the initial program that was set up in Nunavut. That’s one of the reasons I can’t answer the age questions because I don’t have all of the criteria. We welcome all the Members here for the 2:00 p.m. launch this afternoon of the program in the Great Hall. At that time, I am sure we will be able to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This program targets young people who would be or should be in high school.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am afraid I don’t have the background on why the decision was made to require…It’s not a full year on the program, as I understand it. A recipient must have been receiving income support for six of the previous 12 months in order to qualify for the benefit. I suspect that it is because the amount they have divided up on a monthly basis would not be enough to purchase anything in the way of clothing. So in order to make it a reasonable amount, rather than giving out $20 a month or $40 a month, it’s seen as an offering in the program that allows a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister responsible for the public service has advised me that the review of human resource practices is underway, and that, in the not-too-distant future, a report will be available that will be provided to Members on their findings. Thank you.