Jackson Lafferty

Mr. Speaker, we can certainly provide the information that we do have on hand about our research that we have done and our consultation with various provincial jurisdictions and working with the Executive branch. We can certainly provide that information, Mr. Speaker. As we move forward, if this is an area that we need to look at, then we can certainly discuss with the Member and also the standing committee. If we need to move forward with costs, there will be a cost factor. So that needs to be taken into consideration as well. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we can certainly talk about the process that we have in place, whether it be the MLAs coming to the Minister and dealing with certain issues or the process. We try to rectify the problems or challenges that are before us. Sometimes it does take time to deal with those matters because of the documentation that’s required. Whatever we do, Mr. Speaker, we try to avoid the court proceedings. That should be the last resort as much as we can. We currently deal with a variety of, I guess you can say, options of how we can deal with matters at hand. Within the Department of Justice, I...

Mr. Speaker, I can certainly commit my regional staff to work with the community that the Member is referring to. Not only that, but working with the education councils as well, because we provide funding to education for facilities and operations of the schools and the daycare. It all varies in the different communities how we sponsor them, so certainly I’ll commit to that, to provide more information to the Member. Mahsi.

The money that we’ve identified in the past and going forward in early childhood consists of many aspects of facilities that we sponsor in the Northwest Territories. I can certainly provide the breakdown to the Member of the past sponsors that we’ve had and it does vary. If I’m going to speak to it, it’s a bit of a long list. Certainly that information can be shared with the Members whenever it is requested. I can do that.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, in this particular area, yes, our employees or client services officers under the management of the income support managers do assess them, do evaluate them based on the work criteria. Not only that, but we request for outside assessment as well. We ask certain individuals that may be as part of the clientele. We need to get input as much as we can because it is public relations. It is one of the priorities that we need to establish. We continue to improve on those areas. Yes, Mr. Speaker, we do have a mechanism to deal with that assessment of all client service officers. Mahsi...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. As the Member indicated, this is a particular program for seniors to deal with their home heating subsidy. We do advertise in the newspaper. Also, not only that, but Internet and also local TV channels for information. We need to spread the news into the communities that we do have subsidy available. We do what we can to spread the news through our regional representatives as well as through client service officers and the regional officers. Mr. Speaker, we continue to improve our communication dialogue on through those individuals that require subsidies such as seniors...

Mr. Speaker, I guess the action would be that we need to work on this with the Executive. Like I said, it is beyond just the Justice department. The ombudsman is an avenue of last resort. According to other jurisdictions that have them, and investigating complaints about breaches of privacy or legislation after all other avenues have been exhausted. So this is the last resort venue. We deal with matters that have come to our attention. I try to deal with it immediately. I try to resolve those issues. I think we have an excellent mechanism that we can deal with those areas. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this ombudsman has been addressed in 2008, as the Member alluded to. This does require action to make changes to the Residential Tenancies Act if we move forward on this. At the same time, we did look into that from our department perspective. The Department of Executive have done preliminary work in this area and the results also tell us that there are already a variety of means where constituencies can have their concerns or issues addressed through various venues. Also, this particular office of the ombudsman, the resource would definitely be capital...

Mr. Speaker, I’m glad the Member is asking that question. It is important to highlight that. There have been numerous assessments with regard to whether it be the daycare, having young ones in school, if they’re succeeding on to kindergarten or grade 1, what that status is on in that respect. Those are areas we continue to work with. We continue to work with education councils, as well, in the district education authority, because those are important factors that we need to consider. When we talk about the business planning process, those are the key targets that we need to discuss with those...