Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I do have several people to recognize, so if you indulge me. First of all I’d like to recognize in the gallery the Northern Teachers’ Association who is here with us: Mr. David Reid, president of the NWT Association; Dave Roebuck, the executive director of the NWT Teachers’ Association; Emile Hatch, executive director of the Nunavut Teachers’ Association; and Katherine Mackwood, president of the Yukon Teachers’ Association.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to also recognize the Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board and Official Languages Board here with us today. If I can read...

Mr. Speaker, with any request that comes forward to our attention, we do look at our policies and we make changes to the effect where it benefits the communities. This is an area respecting the seniors fuel subsidy. I made a commitment to look at that piece of work. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This has been brought to our attention within my department and we did raise this issue in the House yesterday. I’ve committed in the House that I’d like my department to look at this area and how we get around it so that the elders are not penalized. We talked about the residence issues where individuals may be there for short periods of time. We also talked about other areas where elders are probably 90 years old and more, and how we can get around the system. I will follow through with this within my department.

This may have been addressed by the Rural and Remote Communities committee along with other departments. I can follow through within Education, Culture and Employment on what kind of dialogue has been transferred in that area and transpired in that area. I’ll have to get back to the Members on that. Specifically if there has been discussion on what the Member is referring to.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This particular area has been discussed amongst the departments and through the Rural and Remote Communities committee that has been dealing with this particular initiative. Through that we have identified funding for small employment into the communities. That’s an area that we have targeted and we continue to push forward with that.

Mr. Speaker, I did commit in the House I will provide that information. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have the detailed information with me here, but I can find out from my department exactly where things stand with that particular contract. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is pleased to announce the launch of the Minister’s Cultural Circle.

This circle recognizes those who contribute to the preservation and promotion of cultures and heritage in the Northwest Territories. The circle aligns with this Assembly’s goal to strengthen awareness of our northern identity and uniqueness by promoting our successes, our culture, our arts and our languages with a proud and unified voice.

It highlights achievements and commitments of local cultural leaders, practitioners and groups. It also recognizes...

Mr. Speaker, this is an area that is always before us every fall time and the winter season. We prepare our client service officers to deal with this matter in advance. As I stated, whenever there is a challenge or issues that are being brought to our attention, we work on the policy and if we need to change the policy. If that’s the case, I will give the Members a heads-up. Mahsi.

That would include us looking at the whole issue about the seniors home heating subsidy. When we talk about the residents, these individuals where they sleep and eat. These individuals have been considered that they’re staying at their grandparents’ place. Those are areas that have been brought to our attention that they don’t actually live there. We need to look at the policy itself.