Jackie Jacobson

Why does the GNWT feel payments to beneficiaries across the Inuvialuit beneficiaries be clawed back from income support clients? Why?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my understanding, Mr. Speaker, that, prior to September 2007, the Income Assistance regulations specifically exempted the value of any payments received by the Inuvialuit Final Agreement beneficiaries from being clawed back to those who are also on income support as clients. When this change happened, payments to beneficiaries of the land claim agreements were suddenly reclassified as unearned income. According to regulations at the time, an unearned income over $1,200 a year would be clawed back.

I spoke in this House against this in June 2008, Mr. Speaker. I...

When they are deducting disability benefits, old age benefits, land claim payouts, how much does it save the GNWT on all these clawbacks which should be given to the people? These are disability, old age. People need help. We are the highest paying for groceries in my riding. We are the most northerly riding, and we pay the highest prices. Why are they clawing back what little they get when our government doesn't have jobs to provide up there?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I was speaking in my Member's statement about clawbacks in regard to Inuvialuit beneficiary cheques in regard to getting our yearly payment as a beneficiary. Is it correct, in my understanding, that beneficiary cheques used to be exempt from income support on clawbacks since 2007? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to bring it again. I really encourage my ECE Minister to bring this forward to FMB to try to find the extra funds that are needed. I am not going to use COVID-19. We can't use it for an excuse. I know that we are busy with it; we have all been busy. We need work in our communities, bottom line. That's going to create 40 to 50 jobs, take people off income support. It has a rippling effect right across the whole board, in regard to people able to pay their bills. If they could make sure that they bring it to FMB and give it a good, honest shot, I would...

Thank you, Madam Chair. That being said, I am asking the Minister of ECE: when is he going to bring it to FMB for approval, for the monies needed to finish for the tender, for the company that they are working with? When? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just in regard to bringing it up, I'd like to thank my colleague from Yellowknife, here, who brought up Mangilaluk School. The target date, working with COVID-19, our communities are suffering with no employment, nothing going on. I really think this is a shovel-ready project, and I think this should be brought to FMB to get the extraordinary funds that are needed to work with the proponent to get this contract started this year. From what I've been told, the gap for funds, they're a little bit stretched, but with everything that's been going on with shovel-ready...

To the Premier, in regard to that, it was at her interview today. It's contradicting. I'm getting calls and stuff from back home in regard to the border. Are they allowed to come into the territory in regard to a 14-day self-isolation plan for all Canadians to come in? I just need a yes or a no.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Committee Report 1-19(2), Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment's Report on Long-term Post-pandemic Recovery: Recommendations to the GNWT, be received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uncertainty of the global pandemic -- sorry, Mr. Speaker, one page ahead of myself.

The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment (SCEDE) has witnessed the acute and severe decline in the NWT's private sector from COVID-19. The decline in business activity continues to affect NWT businesses today. While the path through the pandemic may be short term, for some businesses and others it will take much longer to recover.

Businesses across the NWT were ordered to reduce or completely shut down their operations. A handful of businesses were able to innovate...