Jackson Lafferty

Yes, Madam Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Member alluded to where we cannot talk about the specifics of a case that’s before the claims. This particular case is before the claims. When it comes to compensation and benefits for individuals, injured workers, I have had a meeting with WSCC, the president and also the chair, discussing various areas where the Member raised that issue with me earlier. I did raise the profile and we need to deal with those matters that are before us. Those are the areas that the organization is looking after but they are very careful discussing matters that are before claims.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Yes, we will be providing more detailed information to the Members. We have been working with Public Works and Services on providing an update on the technical status evaluation in March of 2011 on the actual building. But if there are deficiencies that we should be aware of, certain areas that are not up to code, then we should be aware of it. We haven’t been notified in that area, but we will be providing the latest status that we have. Mahsi.

Yes, there are various subsidy programs for early childhood development programming, whether it be an early childhood program for start-up and operation contribution funding through the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, which also offsets the cost of operations and contributions towards items such as groceries, equipment, and material purchases. Also, in 2007, we established a rent and mortgage subsidy program that would offset the cost of basic rent and mortgage expenses. Those are just some of the subsidies that are being offered to the communities throughout the Northwest...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Since the report came out, the recommendations, my department committed to follow through with each and every one of them, and one of the areas that we did highlight through our discussion within the department is implementing the early childhood development instrument where we need to identify the early years of those students, the child, the learning, the first year that data has been collected using the EDI tool, and that tool will definitely guide us in decision-making for better healthy childhood development throughout the communities of the Northwest Territories.

Also...

When it comes to early childhood development, the program and community initiatives, there are all kinds of different initiatives and attached to that would be subsidies. I can provide the Members with the subsidies available to whether it be the young families or larger families, that they can access the various subsidy programs through our Department of Education, Culture and Employment and also with Health and Social Services. We can provide that detailed information on the actual subsidy program that may be available.

Mahsi. I definitely will provide detailed information of the childhood inspection licensing action plan and also the schedule. We do have a schedule in place as of this month, October, until early next year, spring. We want to follow through with each and every recommendation that was brought forward according to the Auditor General’s report. It is a very serious issue, especially dealing with early childhood. So I will be providing that detailed information to the Members. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, part of the plan is to introduce the safe schools plan completed and implemented at the beginning of the 2013 school year. That is the overall plan, so we are moving forward on that.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Since the motion was brought forward to this House, my department has been working on various other jurisdictions to identify, or do a complete review of the anti-bullying legislation in other jurisdictions, as well, and developing a safe school proposal, which will be developed, and implementation of a safe school plan as well. Those are the areas that my department has taken on the initiative.

There are two major projects or pieces of proposals that will be introduced in the spring session. In the spring 2013 session we want to introduce the bill and also, at the same time...

Mr. Speaker, I need to confirm with my department on the specific policy on donations. If it’s part of the clawback, I will need to get back to the Members on that specifically. I do not want to give an answer now. It may be a question down the road. I want to verify that with my department first, prior to giving the answer.