Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement today was regarding the high cost of power for an elderly couple in the community of Tuktoyaktuk with the cost of $1,800.23. Has the NTPC ever investigated whether home meter usage displacement would be desirable in isolated northern communities? This device would relay real time costing to a homeowner at any given time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, today my Member’s statement is in regard to an elderly couple who received a power bill for the month January 19, 2010. The amount was $1,824.82. This power bill, Mr. Speaker, was not past due. They called NTPC Inuvik three weeks ago and asked them why their power bill was so high. They said they’d get back to them. Mr. Speaker, they never did. Their daughter physically took the bill and drove it with her to Inuvik, brought the same bill to the Inuvik office. They said they’d get back to her. And, Mr. Speaker, they never did.

This power bill was due February 9. Mr. Speaker, they...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, Mr. Speaker, my Member’s statement was on ECE and the community of Tuktoyaktuk. Mr. Speaker, I try to go home every weekend when we are down here sitting. Every time I go home, I get phone calls from different people in the community saying their first call is always ECE. I’ve been having this problem for the last 18 months. I’m really getting discouraged here.

Mr. Speaker, case workers are sometimes on duty travel and the replacements are often flying in and flying out on a daily basis to fill the regional budget. Are the regional budgets large enough to handle...

I would appreciate that if he could get that back to all Members what it would cost our constituents for the new hunting licences.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the Minister to get a hold of client services in regards to not only Nunakput but all over, the workers that are working in the communities to start helping the people that are asking for help in regards to productive choices. We have 65-year-old people having to go out and shovel. That is not right. Mr. Speaker, this government, is there a different list of productive choices between a place like Yellowknife than Tuktoyaktuk? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the department for those who most need the program do not really know what their options are. Mr. Speaker, how would the department inform the community clients of their options? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on my recent trip home this past weekend constituents of Tuktoyaktuk have asked me about the Income Support Program and productive choices options in the community. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment has been very strict and narrow in their interpretation of what constitutes productive choices in the community. For example, many clients, some who are on medication or are elders, have to physically go out into the community and actively seek productive choice options. Mr. Speaker, that’s very limited in the community of Tuk with a limited...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm happy with the department's recommendations or budget highlights for this year for Nunakput. DOT, the Department of Transportation, represents 8 percent of our total budget. This budget includes $17 million in airport infrastructure improvements and $64 million on funding for highways all across the Northwest Territories, which is good and we really need that. The Nunakput region is receiving much needed infrastructure and investment. Some of the highlights I would like to include are both terminal buildings in Paulatuk and Sachs, $1 million apiece, which we really...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. How big of an increase on the hunting licence?

Mr. Speaker, there is enough work in the community of Tuktoyaktuk for at least two case workers. Every month there is a line-up of people trying to get to see the ECE worker to get help to provide food for their kids, and not only that, to pay some of their bills. Mr. Speaker, when can the department respond to at least having two case workers in the community of Tuktoyaktuk? Thank you.